Ten members of Greece’s former royal family have applied to have their Greek citizenship restored. They were deprived of this in the 1974 referendum that abolished monarchy in Greece.
Greek authorities gave their initial approval on Thursday shortly after the filing of the declaration at the Athens Registry Office. The request was forwarded to the Minister of the Interior, who was asked to examine whether the requirements of the law were met.
Now, the signed decision is expected to be officially published in the Government Gazette. The former royal family members will have to register in the Citizens’ Registry, which will allow them to obtain a Greek identity card and passport, as they have had Danish ones up to the present time. Male applicants of conscription age must complete military service similar to other Greek citizens.
The applicants include the five children of the late King Constantine and five of his grandchildren—three children of his son Pavlos and two of his daughter Alexia.
As part of the citizenship process, applicants must submit a declaration recognizing Greece’s political system, renounce any claims tied to the previous monarchy, and select a surname for their registration in the municipal records.
After these declarations are submitted, they are reviewed by Greece’s Minister of the Interior, who ensures compliance with relevant laws before finalizing the registrations.
The former Greek royal family opted for the “De Grece” surname
The former royals have opted for the surname “De Grece” (Grek: Ντε Γκρες) which matches the name used on their Danish diplomatic passports. Reports indicate that Anna-Maria, widow of King Constantine, has declined to apply for Greek citizenship, stating she has no interest in doing so.
Former prince of Greece Pavlos, the eldest son of former King Constantine, holds the title of Prince of Greece as a symbolic heir to the now-defunct Greek throne and continues to be recognized by monarchist circles and others interested in royal families.
Pavlos went into exile after a failed counter-coup against the junta
Pavlos was born during his father’s reign as king. He was heir apparent to the throne of Greece and was its crown prince from birth, remaining so during his father’s reign until the monarchy’s abolition in 1974.
As a male-line descendant of Christian IX of Denmark, he is also a titular Danish prince although not in succession to the Danish throne, as his mother renounced her rights to the Danish throne upon her marriage to his father.
His family went into exile after a failed counter-coup against the military junta in 1967. He grew up mainly in Rome, Denmark, and London and attended schools in the United Kingdom and the United States. Pavlos studied at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, earning a degree in international relations.
He served in the British Army in the 1990s, specifically in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. Pavlos is also known as a businessman, primarily working in investment and finance. He and his family frequently appear at global society events, and his marriage to Marie-Chantal Miller has further elevated their profile due to her wealth and connections in the fashion and business world.
While Greece is a republic, some monarchists in the country and abroad regard Pavlos as the head of the royal family following his father’s passing in January 2023. Constantine died on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 at the age of 82. Greece hosted several European royals who arrived in Athens for the former King’s funeral.
The funeral service took place in Athens’ Metropolis while the burial was held near the graves of Constantine’s ancestors at the former royal palace in Tatoi.
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