Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark passed away on 15 January 2026 at age 83. She maintained a low profile despite deep ties to Europe’s royalty.
As the younger sister of Queen Sofia of Spain and the late King Constantine II of Greece, she counted Crown Prince Pavlos among her nephews. She spent her later years in Madrid living near her nephew, King Felipe VI, and Queen Letizia.
Irene entered the world on 11 May 1942 in Cape Town, South Africa. Her parents, then Crown Prince Paul and Princess Frederica, lived in exile amid Greece’s Italian invasion and Nazi occupation during World War II. The youngest of three siblings, after Sofia (born 1938) and Constantine (born 1940), she returned to Greece in 1946 at age four. Her father ascended as King Paul in 1947, making her brother Crown Prince Constantine at just six years old.
Musical brilliance
Princess Irene shone as a virtuoso pianist. Concert pianist Gina Bachauer mentored her, leading to a professional career.
In 1969, she debuted in Britain at the Royal Festival Hall with Bach’s Concerto No. 2. The performance drew a three-minute standing ovation. Her brother attended, alongside the Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and Princess Anne. Newspapers acclaimed her: “Princess or not, she’s more than an adequate player.”
Tragedies, coup, and spiritual journey
King Paul succumbed to stomach cancer in 1964 at 62. Constantine II took the throne at 23. Public favour faded after his political interventions toppled Prime Minister George Papandreou’s centrist government. A 1967 military coup deposed the monarchy; Constantine’s failed counter-coup forced his flight to Rome.
Greece abolished the monarchy in 1973. Irene travelled to India with her mother, embracing Hindu philosophy. Reports confirm her conversion; she devoted herself to 8th-century scholar Shankaracharya and extolled the Vedas.
She declared: “The Vedas and Indian philosophy alone could show a path of peace to the world… The Vedic life was above caste, region, religion and country. World peace can be achieved by following Vedic life.”
Frederica died in 1981. Irene then joined Queen Sofia at Madrid’s La Zarzuela Palace in an apartment, residing there for life. Her niece, Infanta Cristina, named a daughter Irene in her honour.
She never married, though linked romantically to a married Greek man. Rumours suggested King Olav V of Norway eyed her for son Harald V (now King), who instead wed Sonja Haraldsen in 1968. Irene reportedly mastered Norwegian in preparation.
Final years and appearances
Irene appeared selectively at events, including Crown Prince Leka’s 2016 wedding to Elia Zaharia and King Constantine’s January 2024 funeral.
Funeral arrangements
The Spanish Royal Family outlined ceremonies. Her body lies in state Saturday, 17 January, at Madrid’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saints Andrew and Demetrius. This lets Madrid residents and Greek expatriates pay respects, honouring her Spanish years.
The cortege then flies to Greece. The funeral service occurs Monday, 19 January, in Athens. Burial follows at Tatoi’s royal cemetery beside her parents and brother, closing a life woven into Greek royal history.
The Greek Royal Family Office will soon release full Athens and Tatoi protocol details.
Her passing stirs global emotion for her integrity, quiet dignity, and philanthropy. Ceremonies bridge Spain and Greece, nations that defined her.
Sources: To Vima/Tatler.com
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