If the Greek monarchy hadn’t been abolished in 1974, then Crown Prince Pavlos would today be King of the Hellenes. But does this would-be king actually want the job?
The now-head of the Greek Royal Family appeared on the Greek television programme ‘Enopios Enopio’ (in English, ‘Face to Face’) last week to discuss a myriad of topics ranging from his thoughts on reigning to politics and more.
When asked by host Nikos Hadjinikolaou if he would support a return to monarchy in Greece, Crown Prince Pavlos said, “The Republic continues and is going strong. The Constitution is strong. There is no such issue.”
He added, “I have taken Greek citizenship under my name and I live here, near you. I am a Greek who grew up abroad and has returned. Let me live my life. I want to contribute to my country. I want to be useful to my country. I am not asking for anything different.”
Pavlos and his children—Princess Maria-Olympia and Princes Constantine-Alexios, Achileas-Andreas, Odysseas-Kimon, and Aristidis-Stavros—and his four siblings—Princesses Alexia and Theodora and Princes Nikolaos and Philippos—were granted Greek citizenship at the end of 2024 and now use the surname de Grèce, a move that sparked controversy in the country for not being an actual surname but one that denotes royalty and claiming of a place.
Queen Anne-Marie, the last queen of the Hellenes and Pavlos’s mother, did not join her family in taking up Greek citizenship, nor did his wife, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal.
Crown Prince Pavlos also revealed that he was not raised to be a king by his late father, Constantine II, but instead was raised to value duty and honour for his country.
“He raised me with the principles he considered essential: love of our country, loyalty to our traditions, and of course, something important that I believe no one else does: not to harbor resentment or bitterness.”
King Constantine II reigned for nearly a decade between 1964 and 1973, when a military junta overthrew the monarchy and a referendum the following year gave the monarchy an official abolishment. The Greek Royal Family lived in exile for decades, though King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie were finally allowed to return and live in the country from 2013 onward, where he died in 2023.
Crown Prince Pavlos was adamant that he wants to be useful to Greek society, but while he’s interested in politics, “a subject that is in my blood,” he doesn’t consider himself a politician and isn’t interested in getting involved in politics.
“I am not a politician… Politics is like an art, which solves the problems of a society,” he said.
Crown Prince Pavlos said that he would want to be useful, and that his diplomatic ties to other countries and his ability to connect with people and companies through his spheres of influence “can be useful to the country,” and if there’s an opportunity to help Greece this way, “of course I will do it.”
