The Monarchy in Greece

[Queen Amina]

acda1, I don't know what will happen to the titles in the long run it depends on the rules and "letters patent" as laid out by King Constantine or his predecessors but I generally assume the titles may die out so to speak with CP Pavlos's grandchildren.

Anyone with much better knowledge and info please feel free to correct me.

 

[Bella]

Thank you, Queen Amina. Your explanation makes sense. It's almost too bad that in a couple of generations there really will be no personal link to the monarchy in Greece.

 

[ilias of john]

link with Greece

Hi Bella,
I think you may find that this Royal Family will have links with Greece for a very Looooong time!

 

[Bella]

Hi ilias of john ~ I hope so. I'm not political and admittedly know nothing about the causes of the coup and all that, but I sort of like the idea of a Greek RF. True, I am not a citizen of Greece (so I really shouldn't have an opinion) but I guess I feel sorry for the GRF having been treated the way they were.

 

[Jaya]

In Answer to "King Christians" Question...

Before all this that you mention you may have forgotten the great dispute when then Prime Minister Karamanlis openly criticised the royal family especially Queen Frederika for their "ostentious " lifestyle by letter and made apparent his aversion to many things in their lifestyle as early as 1963. There were also rumours that the national coffers were emptied to supply a hefty dowry to Sofia who married Juan Carlos in /62{ this is conjecture but it went down into the masses and not over well]
Also you forget that Kons supposedly had a serious Greek love interest
Aliki Vougiouklaki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and that even though of patrician descent herself[her father was the mayor of Tripolis and her mother of bona fide Byzantine purple origin] was not allowed to pursue this which the Greeks as nation would have possibly embraced better than Princess Anne Marie who is impeccable and faultless Let there be no room for misinterpretation.But the Greeks had had enough of the foreign element.And I feel the backlash came from Aliki being rejected as a potential Queen.
I think Aliki God rest her soul who the masses embraced and adored as the "national star" was at the root of the faux pas.It reverberated in the masses that Greeks themselves were not good enough to become royal and one of the Greek soil like Aliki could not be eleveated and so perhaps they pushed back.
In my heart of hearts and knowing that George Papandreou[who even posed in a famous photograph together despite being a socialist with the beautiful couple Queen Anne Marie and King Constantine} was a wholesome Greek less so than Constantine Karamanlis who self exiled to Paris after a supposed irreconcilable difference with Queen Frederkia. and supposedly after internal political conflict.imo I would say Aliki was the beginning of the end; the alpha and omega.For Karamanlis she represented Greece.She was Helen and they wanted [according to what I know of his stand] and needed the renaissance of their own element elevatedto royal power to counterbalance the growing socialist and pre dominating republican sentiment.Dolce Aliki may the ground that covers you be light.

 

[*SofiaM*]

Greek News - Antiquities Unearthed at Exiled King¢s Palace

 

[ilias of john]

I often ask myself how difficult it must be for a member of any Royal Family to live their life without incessant media and political coverage and influence.Can you image what H .M the King would have gone through when Karamanlis and Papandrew where supposedly instructing him on which girlfirend he should have and who he should marry. If memory serves me correct he was 20 or so when he was "with" Aliki.By the way,we all know this but has anybody actually got proof that they were boyfriend and girlfriend or is it just another suburban myth?
Secondly,the point of Aliki being of "purple" Byzantine blood is very difficult to believe.Every man and his dog in Greece can claim this because the Byzantine Empire has 82 or so Emperors form more than 9 dynasties over its 1000 odd years and family trees tend to become forests with every generation.
And lastly, H.M Queen Anne Marie, is the Queen of Greece because The King married her.No one else. He made his decision.The Greeks did not "remove" the monarchy because he did not marry a Greek!.It was removed in a fraudulent public referendum where votes for the Monarch were not counted and votes against were inflated and substituited.

By the way,
yes,
may the soil that covers Aliki be light,
may the soil that covers the departed members of the Greek Royal Family be light,
and,
God save H.M. The King.
Konstantinos, Vasilias ton Ellinon

 

[Philippe Egalite']

That king Constantine had an affair with actress Aliki Vouyiouklaki is a matter of speculation but irrelevant altogether to this discussion. As was also the case with King Alexander, who eventually married Aspasia Manos but secretely, against the advice of the then prime minister E Venizelos, and the marriage was declared morganatic, the Greek Royals, whether they liked it or not, were NOT allowed by the State to marry into Greek families for fear of political minglings, corruption etc etc.
Another example is the case of prince Michael of Greece who, upon his marriage to Greek citizen Marina Karellas, had to, and did, resign his rights to the throne.
At any rate, even if he did have an affair with the late Aliki Vouyiouklaki, it could have never resulted in marriage. This actress, very popular with the working and uneducated classes, was of lower middle class upbringing and education and petite bourgeoisie background, such that she would have never been tolerated by the Greek upper echelons.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

The people will do what they want and will have the Government they want whether it is what anyone here wishes it could be. However one day, Pavlos will inherit the claiment for this non-existant throne and be expected to continue 'the good greek works.' What i was saying is that he deserves a chance to do this and show he does care for Greece like any other Greek Citizen which is very hard for someone to do when they are not aloud in the country and people just pick holes in you. ........"

Greece not only allows but is mandated by European law to allow all European citizens to live, practise professions, operate businesses and so on in Greece, if they so choose. Mrs Marie-Chantal Miller (in Greece, by law introduced in the 1980's, even after marriage, all women bear their maiden last name) owns and runs a baby garments' shop in fashionable Kolonaki, just 300 yards from my house, actually.
Further, prince Pavlos, who appears to be very personable, is most welcome to open up a business, run for politics, do whatever else he chooses professionally or live permanently in Greece.
The Greeks may still hold grudges, for right or wrong, against King Constantine but no Greek has a problem with King Constantine's children, no one.

 

[lucien]

Indeed,HRH The Crown Princess Pavlos,néé Marie-Chantal Miller successfully runs that shop around your corner since a few years now.

And,like anywhere else in Europe,it is their own free choice to let the maiden name trail the husbands name,or use it as they please,
not that it is written in rock that all go by their maiden name only,even after marriage.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

Indeed,HRH The Crown Princess Pavlos,néé Marie-Chantal Miller successfully runs that shop around your corner since a few years now.

And,like anywhere else in Europe,it is their own free choice to let the maiden name trail the husbands name,or use it as they please,
not that it is written in rock that all go by their maiden name only,even after marriage.

Not in Greece. In Greece, whether in identity cards, passports or any document, all women who got married AFTER the passage of the new law, MUST be identified by their maiden last name. Until then, professional women were carrying both their maiden name and the husband's surname in a double barrel fashion (hyphenated, that is), while homemakers or women who had graduated from university or had entered the professions after their marriage were carrying the husband's name.

Now, in the hypothetical setting that Greece were still a monarchy and the 1952 constitution was in effect, the marriage of prince Paul would have been morganatic, as was the case with King Alexander who married Aspasia Manos without permission of the Venizelos government. Posthumously, that is, after King Alexander's death because of septicemia following a bite by a monkey, Aspasia Manos was elevated to princess by unilateral act of the then king but the government and the people never acknoledged that and she is hence quoted in government documents, history books etc as Aspasia Manos.
Last but not least, when prince Micahel married Greek commoner Marina Karella, he had to resign his rights and she remained Marina Karella by decision of the palace - that was in 1965 if my memory serves me well.

Obviously, Mrs Miller is of no concern to Greece and the Greek people and, as long as she remains a non-Greek citizen, the way she gets addressed by people is a private business between her and them and none of Greece's.

 

[mamaptak]

You'll have to pardon me, as I am trying to follow this thread to the best of my ability and with a relatively recent interest in the Greek Royal Family. Am I to assume that we have some consensus on an actual "last name" that this family uses? If so, can someone clarify what it is? I am quite curious. Thanks in advance.

 

[Benjamin]

If so, can someone clarify what it is? I am quite curious.

On his Danish passport the ex-king is "Constantine De Grecia".

 

[ilias of john]

H.M The King has publicly stated that the GRF has no last name.It is definately an abnormality for us in the modern age but that unfortunately is the sad truth.They use the phrase "de Grecia" (of Greece) on many legal documents ie passports but that is NOT their surname.
They are decended from the Dukes of Gluxburg but neither is that their surname.The British Royal family,who are directly related to the GRF use a number of surnames.They use Windsor,Mountbatten-Windsor(Princess Anne's marriage certificate to her first hubby),Wales(Princes William and Harry in the Army)and Wessex (Prince Edward on all his televisin documentaries.)
I ferverentky hope that the Greek Goverment would allow the Royal Family to use a Greek version of de Grecia on their Greek passports and reinstate their Greek citizenship.I mean honstly,how can they continue to remain stateless?

 

[Iverieli]

Its shame to Greece not has a monarchy. All orthodox christian counties lost their monarchy and thats started from Georgia, when russia took it. In 20th century Greece was only hope for orthodox christian countries to reinstate monarchy but everybody knows what happened. I'm so sorry post like that but its very hard to imagine because for me, as Georgian very clear what orthodox christianity is and how orthodox church takes things about monarchy.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

Its shame to Greece not has a monarchy.

The sovereign people of Greece have decided, by themselves and for themselves, differently and are very happy with the Third Hellenic Republic and its membership to the European Union for which they look forward to becoming also a political entity with common defense and foreign policy.
The Hellenes do not need or invite advice from non-Greek citizens on their State's polity.
Due to a comparatively meteoric economic progress, Greece, which, up until 40 years ago, used to lose her flesh and blood due to forced economic emigration to Australia, Canada and Germany [1.5 million between 1954 and 1964], is now host to 1 million economic immigrants from all over the world including your native Georgia. And this was achieved during the Third Hellenic Republic.

All orthodox christian counties lost their monarchy and thats started from Georgia, when russia took it. In 20th century Greece was only hope for orthodox christian countries to reinstate monarchy but everybody knows what happened. I'm so sorry post like that but its very hard to imagine because for me, as Georgian very clear what orthodox christianity is and how orthodox church takes things about monarchy.

Christianity, or Orthodox Christianity in this case, is not about polity [ie monarchy versus republic] of individual nation states. Christianity is about caring, compassion, tolerance and acceptance.

However, it is true that, in distinction from the Orthodox Faith, the Orthodox Church (as well as other organized denominations of Christianity) has always had a hand and glove relationship with all kinds of emperors, czars, kings and despots. And it is also true that the Orthodox Church has historically mingled with polity and political issues. It is because of these practices and these reasons that the Hellenes, albeit >95% orthodox christians, some devout, others linking their religious capacity to culture or ethnic identity, are by a vast majority very skeptical about the Church.

 

[Daytona]

Iverieli,bear in mind that the monarchy was enforced to Greek people by the western powers (France,England,Italy) and from Russia.No monarch was Greek and hadnt any greek culture or education.Even Constantine speaks adequatly Greek but is very fluent in English.In addition most of the kings didnt really care for Greece or the people and their pollitical decisions were made on the basis of their relations to other european monarchs supporting their interests.Democracy is the best regime.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

No monarch was Greek and hadnt any greek culture or education.Even Constantine speaks adequatly Greek but is very fluent in English.

In all fairness, former king Constantine speaks perfect Greek, albeit non-scholarly due to limited education. He is fluent in English but with a subtle, clearly Greek accent and this is something I like about him.

 

[ilias of john]

The Greek monarchs were Greek born after George I.hence most of us would say they were Greek.Their use of the Greek language was and continues to be perfect.Now by the term scholarly Greek, Phillip that language is porbably unknown to 95% of the population.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

Since Byzantine times, there had been a very strong bond (hand and glove-type) between Emperors and the Church, in abidance by the age-old Greek motto Η ισχύς εν τη ενώσει (strength in unity) for, by supporting each other's position, they had managed to perpetuate despotism and autocracy. And it was the resultant corruption, incompetence and betrayal that, at least, contributed to the demise and Fall of the Empire and Constantinople. Alas, history always repeats itself. Ieronymos Kotsonis, the royal chapel's priest and confidant of the royal family, betrayed them and became the Junta's archbishop!!!

I understand that, at some point, Archbishop Ieronymos visited the King in Rome and was crying, asking for forgiveness!!

What is fascinating, paradoxical and ironical about King Constantine's downfall, was that it was not caused, prompted or facilitated by what are historically the adversaries of any monarchy such as the communist, left-wing or centrist political parties, but by its allies, that is, the pro-royalist right-wing party, the military and the Church.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

You'll have to pardon me, as I am trying to follow this thread to the best of my ability and with a relatively recent interest in the Greek Royal Family. Am I to assume that we have some consensus on an actual "last name" that this family uses? If so, can someone clarify what it is? I am quite curious. Thanks in advance.

The former King's last name is, as of 2001 and by his own decision and declaration, the spanish sounding de Grecia or De Grecia as Benjamin indicated correctly in an earlier post. Following his application, the Danish Government recognized him as a Dane and, thus, granted him a Danish passport.
The issue, in fact, prompted a discussion in the Danish Parliament (2001) initiated by a republican MP who asked why a Danish passport was granted to former King Constantine. The answer given in behalf of the Foreign Ministry was that former King Constantine is a direct descendant of King Christian IX and, thus, a Dane and a prince af Danmark.
Please note that prince af Danmark is a non-substantive title, that is, without rights of succession to the Danish Throne and without legal rights either. King Constantine, as a direct, agnatic descendant of King Christian IX (great-great-grandson) was born (1940) a prince til Danmark (substantive rank and title with full succession rights to the Throne). However, the 1953 Succession Act limited the Rights of Succession only to descendants of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine. Those people, who were born princes or princesses til Danmark and ceased to be so, were accorded the honorific but non-substantive and without rights title of prince/princess af Danmark.

Conclusion: By his own decision, former King Constantine is now a Danish and, automatically, a European citizen with the surname de Grecia or De Grecia.

 

[Daytona]

Only by checking the family tree do you understand how Greek all royals were.I strongly believe that you must read Greek history to know details to judge how useful they were and why people more than once have voted to abolish monarchy.I have heard Constantine speaking puristic Greek(καθαρευουσα) and i enjoy hearing this greek than modern but i insist that he feels more comfortable when speaking English.And this is quite logical if someone has lived abroad for more than 30 years.

 

[ilias of john]

In September 2005 I was fortunate to meet H.M amd Prince Nikolaos. I can say without a shadow of doubt that their use of the Greek language is flawless, as if they are full time residents of Greece with University qualifications in law or similar. I have grown up speaking the language as a child and as an adult and feel myself well qualified to make such a comment.
Speaking to both of them individually my opinion is that the King feels a lot more comfortable in Greek than in English.
To believe otherwise would be in error, and, as for his children one must remember that he established the Greek school in London for the sole purpose of educating them in Greek.
Now, on to one of my favourite topics, Philippe Egalite',you quoted..

Conclusion: By his own decision, former King Constantine is now a Danish and, automatically, a European citizen with the surname de Grecia or De Grecia.

That is quite correct, however that was because the Greek goverment had stripped the King of his Greek Nationality and passport and subsequently left our Greek Royal family stateless,what would anyone have done except ask for help from family?, ie. his wife's sister.
I would wager everything that when the Greek goverment restores His Magesty's citizenship and passport he will instantly revoke his Danish citizenship and passports.

 

[Daytona]

Nikolaos does speak fluently Greek,no argument on that.The De Grecia is not a a surname.He is being provocative.This indicates his previous office and this is why no passport is granted to him.He should finally realise that we have a different democracy than the one he wants,people voted and people is the ruler.We have laws that apply to all Greeks.If he wants a passport he should choose a surname.

 

[ilias of john]

Well said Daytona,
"We have laws that apply to all Greeks".
Would it not be fair to apply true (honourable) Greek Justice to His Majesty and his family?
And, if he wants 'of Greece' or "de Grecia' or 'Felix the Cat' as a surname on his passport what is wrong with that?
In a true constituitional monarchy,ie Australia, Canada, New Zealand the Head of State is either the Governor General or the Sovereign.The true power rests in the hands of the people who elect their representatives by universal suffrage.These representatives then pass laws that by convention the Head of State is compelled to ratify.
It works very well and there is no need to keep changing it unlike the French Republic systems.

 

[Daytona]

Greek laws allow people to choose their last names but there are restrictions.So the last name he has chosen is against the laws.As simple as that even if you cant accept it.You may call him as you like but remember he has lost his power and hence all the titles and privileges that go with it.He is no king or majesty,he is a simple civilian like any other in the EU and is equal to any other man.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

It is not that I am trying to reconcile the opinions of you both, but I feel compelled to be fair.

First of all, what Australia, Canada and New Zealand do or do not is the absolute prerrogative of the people of the respective countries, and is and should be deeply respected by outsiders. All three of these countries have an excellent system of government, but in now way does it mean that there are no other equally effective types of polity. Back to our topic now.

What, perhaps, was not fully understood here is the diplomatic mastery that Denmark employed to accept the de Grecia as a surname, which is exactly that in Danish de Grecia is meaningless. Indeed, it was handled ingeniously, so that Greece could take no offense at Denmark's action for, no matter what HM Queen Margrethe wants, she or her government would never offend a fellow member of the EU.
That the former king of the Hellenes is, as of 2001, a Danish citizen was not intended at criticizing or even critiquing him, but to answer the discussant's (Ilias of John) argument that king Constantine is stateless. The former king of the Hellenes is not a Greek citizen at this juncture, but not stateless.

The Hellenic Constitution doesn't talk specifically about surnames, but commands isonomy for all, which means that what applies to me [all] applies to all [me], be it rights, duties etc. By extrapolation, and because all Hellenes must have a surname, that is, a legal identity by which they get recognized by the state and their fellow citizens, any prospective Greek citizen must declare a surname or must devise one if he doesn't have any. And the surname he devises shall be his for life and he cannot claim a posteriori that he has no name for this would constitute perjury since upon becoming citizens people give an oath. To be complete though, Hellenes who have inherited surnames that aren't tasteful or have a derrogatory meaning are allowed to apply formally for surname change [for example, I know of a getleman with the last name of Κουλόγιωργας (which means George the useless), who changed it to Καλόγιωργας (George the good)].

As Ilias of John indicated correctly, the former king of Greece has no surname or so he declares and this is exactly the crux of the problem the Hellenic Republic has with former king Constantine:
1) that he refuses to devise and adopt genuinely a surname
and
2)that he refuses to acknowledge that he has a surname even after becoming a Danish citizen (2001), when he made the implicit declaration (in most countries by oath) that his surname is de Grecia.
All these make it crystal-clear that former king Constantine considers himself different and different he may be in the eyes of people and countries that allow that (Denmark, for instance, recognizes him both as a citizen and a nobleman, albeit in a non-substantive fasion). However, in a manner identical to that of the United States of America, the Hellenic Constitution has no room for differences of this type. Mr. Ronald Reagan, for instance, was accorded knighthood by the Queen, but neither he nor anyone else ever dared to use Sir Ronald Reagan.

In a way, former king Constantine has created a precedent for it would be difficult to argue that the de Grecia was a surname of convenience, since this could or would technically be an insult to Denmark and could place at risk his credibility and honor. For all intents and purposes, therefore, his surname vis-a-vis the EU is de Grecia. Therefore, one would be inclined to believe that the Hellenic Republic would have no problem with transliteration to Ντε Γκρέτσια, since it is meaningless in Greek but, under no circumstances, would it allow translation to Της Ελλάδος. Translation would be in defiance of international precedent. When people emigrate to foreign-speaking countries, their surnames get transliterated and not translated.

One could guess though that, apart from the surname, two more matters, would be, ipso facto, required or that his Hellenic citizenship would be conditional on:
1) His declaring internationally and particularly to various European or other Courts that what is written in his passport is his genuine surname and that he indeed has a surname (the moment he becomes a Greek citizen) and
2) His not being permitted in public, either within or outside Greece, to allow himself to be addressed as anything other than Κύριος Κωνσταντίνος Ντε Γκρέτσια [Monsieur Constantine de Grecia]. Obviously, all these would apply to former queen Anne-Marie, should she want to become a Greek citizen, who would become Kυρία Αννα-Μαρία Ντε Γκρέτσια [Madame Anne-Marie de Grecia].

However, it is almost certain that former king Constantine is unwilling to live with that, which makes it highly unlikely that he will ever become a Greek citizen again. In the end though, there is no issue, because he can live permanently in Greece by virtue of the fact that he is a European citizen. If I were in his place, I wouldn't be willing to give up so much to gain so little.
If, on the other hand, becoming a Greek citizen again carries a lot of symbolism to him, he may surprise us all.

 

[Philippe Egalite']

I wasnt actualy saying that Greece should become a monarchy just so Pavlos can have five minutes to prove him self on the throne. As I said pages ago, it doesnt matter whether Greece is a Republic, Monarchy, Theocracy or anyother form of government, however secure and stable it may be... Constantine will always be the man who was King, and is the man who would be King had the Monarchy not been abolished, just as the Dukes of Bavaria have some complex Jacobian Claim on the British Crown, of which is even more unlikely to ever happen, however if you are so inclined they are the person to whom you turn.

Nobody could disagree with the above.

Whether you agree or disagree with monarchys in general or just in Greece, there are those who are either in favour of its return or simply just look upon the Royal Family with respect. In the same way if your Catholic your focal point is the Pope, and just beacuse he pays a state visit to your country does not mean there is going to be a Catholic forced take over. It doesnt matter if Greece is doing well or not, or if you like or hate the former King, there are people who look towards him for what ever small bit of happiness it brings them.

Nobody could disagree with these thoughts either.

As such I personaly dont see a problem with someone calling them selves Glucksberg, De Greece, Oldenberg or Mr Athens, in supporting charities and promting Greek interests, and generaly doing good works as a private citizen.

It is suprising that you, a Briton, say that. Your country, and in particular the British Peerage, has a strict set of rules as to names, rank, title and style of nobility, knights etc.
For instance, if, say, Mr. Peter Phillips visited Greece and someone called him prince Peter or referred to him as HRH or addressed him as Your Royal Highness, I am sure, you would all have a fit and your Ambassador would have made representations so as to prevent similar events from recurring.
For instance, when the minor princely family of Battenberg moved to England, they were stripped of their princely rank and title, their name of provenance was switched to Mounbatten and only the senior male became 1st Marquess of Milford Haven while the rest of the family became commoners and everybody, whether a British a non-British subject had to observe the rules set forth by king George V.
For instance, when princess Katherine of Greece married major Brandram in 1947, moved with him to England and applied for British citizenship, she had to resign, and she was stripped of, her rank, title and style and, in the end, it was out of king George VI's decision that she was given the courtesy status of a duke's daughter which permitted her to be styled Lady Brandram. Could you imagine the reaction should someone dare address British subject Mr. Paul Brandram, her son, as HRH prince Paul of Greece??? I am sure the British Peerage would have a fit. Imagine The Queen's reaction had Lady Brandram been calling herself princess Katherine, while in England and a British subject??

In England alone, there have been volumes written about the appropriateness of names of the Royal House and their surname. People may argue for hours that Prince Philip's name is neither Mountbatten (anglicized Battenberg) nor Battenberg for it is his mother's name and that it is Glucksburg since he is the son of prince Andrew of Greece. Therefore, precedent shows that names matter and are important indeed.
All the above, therefore, show implicitly and explicitly that form can be in certain settings as important as substance or even more so.

Finally, as analyzed in detail in the preceding post, the issue with former king Constantine is that he declares that he has no name and, apparently,he treats the surname de Grecia accorded to him by Denmark, at his request, as a vehicle of convenience and not as his genuine surname.

Now if he started causing trouble and inciting his small or large number of followers into storming the Government Offices and Gunning the down the Oposition in the Street in an attempt to win back his throne then I would understand their reluctance to let him in, but I dont really think it is his style.

Even if this was their intention (and it isn't) there are no more Greeks who are passionate enough, one way or another vis-a-vis former King Constantine, to resort to revolt in his behalf. Members of the former royal family walk in and out of Greece constantly, particularly the former king and his wife and son Nikolaos and they are most welcome to do so. The latter attends parties, society functions etc. Former king Constantine goes around alone and talks to people whether in the streets, cafe's, the bar of Grande Bretagne, where he stays usually, and so on.

The people will do what they want and will have the Government they want whether it is what anyone here wishes it could be. However one day, Pavlos will inherit the claiment for this non-existant throne and be expected to continue 'the good greek works.' What i was saying is that he deserves a chance to do this and show he does care for Greece like any other Greek Citizen which is very hard for someone to do when they are not aloud in the country and people just pick holes in you. If he turns out to be nothing more than an arrogant royal who wants nothing more than a crown and status we can then all say "he had his chance to be a good man and he blew it and thank goodness they didnt make him King."

The son of former king Constantine is having a good life in London and New York and good for him. The Greek people are not interested in him in his capacity as son of former king Constantine and don't expect anything from him in this regard. However, he is likeable and most wlecome in Greece 365 days a year including Mrs. Miller and their children.

As for what Constantine or Pavlos call their Family I only have one thought. (please note I am not comparing the two for how much work they did)How many people know Mother Teresa of Calcutters Surname? Did her name have any relevance to the good she tried to do?

The late ethnarch and major European statesman Eleftherios Venizelos said "The less people are involved with our country's affairs, the better it is for Greece"!

 

[ilias of john]

Phillip,
His Majesty and the Greek people have given up so much for very little.
King Konstantine will most likely surprise us all as to his Greek Nationality( I am certain no one now denies he is a Greek)
And finally,
you still haven't answered the question as to who would have arrested the Colonels?
Daytona,
You mention, He is no King or Majesty, just a normal civilian like every other citizen in the E.U.
Last time I chequed the E.U had many nation,( ie U.K Spain Belgium,Netherlands, Norway, Holland etc etc)where their Head of State was a little more different than a normal citizen.
How come you two blokes use French MONIKERS?

 

[Philippe Egalite']

You mistook my nickname. Philippe Egalite' comes from Louis Philippe Joseph II, duc d' Orleans, called Philippe Egalite', who became a fervent supporter of the French Revolution.