The death of Constantine of Greece: another royal funeral reunites the Spanish royal family

The last time they were all seen together was at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of England in September.

That the Spanish royal family appears together is news because

has become a sort of black sheep of the group, self-exiled with his friends in the United Arab Emirates because scandals rain down at home: complaints from ex-lovers, bribes , etc...

This Monday, on the occasion of the funeral of the last king of Greece, Constantine, everyone -from the current King Felipe VI to his father Juan Carlos, sisters and nephews-

There is an important fact,

The emeritus kings Juan Carlos and Sofía, together with Irene of Greece, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens.

Photo: EFE

More than

and members of most of the European royal houses attended the burial in the Tatoi palace of the last king of the Greeks.

As reported this Monday by the newspaper El País of Madrid, among them members of the royal families from all over Europe gave presents from Princess Anne of England (sister of King Carlos III) to Queen Margaret of Denmark (sister-in-law of Constantine),

and the kings of Spain, both Felipe and Letizia (without their daughters) and the emeritus Juan Carlos and Sofía.

It is

since Elizabeth II's funeral, held in London last September.

On this occasion, the emeritus kings

to Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, but have been placed on facing benches, reports El País.

The kings Máxima and Guillermo of Holland.

Photo: Aris Messinis / AFP

And he adds that "the emeritus have been in the second row, behind the main members of the Greek family, and the current kings in front, in the front row along with other sovereigns such as Felipe and Matilda of Belgium or Alberto de Monaco".

The first to arrive at the cathedral were the three sons of Constantine, Paul, Nicholas, and Philip, who stood by the coffin while the guests were entering.

The emeritus were located in the second row, after the main members of the Greek family.

Photo: EFE

King Emeritus Juan Carlos I

, leaning on his cane at all times.

Next to them,

The citizens who had gathered next to the temple received the emeritus queen chanting "Sofía, Sofía". 

Flanking the coffin on both sides were relatives and monarchs: in the front row, the direct family of the deceased, that is, his wife, Ana María of Denmark, as well as their children, the aforementioned Pablo, Nicolás, Felipe, as well as Alexia and Teodora, and their respective partners.

King Emeritus Juan Carlos I arrived with Queen Sofía, leaning on his cane at all times.

Photo: Reuters

Behind the direct family, sat Queen Sofía and King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, Princess Irene, and other family members, mostly grandchildren of the deceased.

In the third row, other relatives and the infantas.

After Constantine's funeral, the burial was scheduled in what was

today a semi-abandoned residence (which suffered a serious fire in the summer of 2021) owned by the Greek State.

united royal families

The Spanish Royal Family, very close to the Greek family due to

The Greek government had prohibited Constantine from being granted the honors of head of state, given that

in a referendum supported by 69.2% of the population.

The coffin had been exposed from six in the morning to half past ten local time in the adjoining chapel of Ayios Eleftherios, to give citizens the opportunity to say their last goodbye, a concession made by the Government to the relatives of the deceased, since in principle no public exhibition was planned.

The coffin covered with the Greek flag and a wreath.

Photo: EFE

In front of the coffin covered with the Greek flag and a wreath of flowers were displayed

that the former king received throughout his life, including the Order of the Golden Fleece, one of the

oldest and most prestigious

The funeral was officiated by

and Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church, Jerome II, who, flanked by the entire Holy Synod (episcopal conference), offered a liturgy typical of a private man.

At the end, the eldest son, Paul of Greece, gave a few words of remembrance that he took the opportunity to remember Constantine's participation in the Olympic Games in Rome, and honor his "patriotism" in difficult times for Greece, such as the

, when - he said - the then king attempted to organize a counter-coup that failed and forced him to leave the country, so as not to become "the cause of new bloodshed by staying in Greece".

"Always faithful to your father's legacy, you respectfully accepted the decision of the Greek people," he added, referring to the referendum.

The coffin of the former King of Greece Constantine II arrives at the Metropolitan Cathedral.

Photo: AP

At the end of the mass, the guests moved to the cemetery on the former royal estates of Tatoi, where Constantine's parents, King Paul and Queen Frederick of Hanover, as well as other members of the Hellenic royal family, lie.

There, the closest entourage prayed a response for the deceased in a small chapel located on the estate before joining the rest of the attendees to bury the ex-king.

Clarín writing with information from EFE and El País of Madrid

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