The Queen of Denmark has expressed her ”deep sadness’ after the death of Constantine II, last King of the Hellenes.
Constantine was married to Margrethe’s younger sister, Anne-Marie. As well as being in-laws, the Danish monarch and the former Greek monarch were also distant cousins through their descent from King Christian IX of Denmark.
Constantine II died on January 10th 2023 in Athens at the age of 82.
A short statement, issued by the Danish Royal Court, said ”It is with great sadness that HM The Queen and the Royal Family have received the news that HM King Constantine II of Greece has passed away on Tuesday evening. At this moment, the thoughts of the royal family are with HM Queen Anne-Marie and the entire Greek family.”
It continued ”Flags are being flown at half-mast from Amalienborg today.”
It is expected that members of the Danish Royal family will attend the funeral of King Constantine. Just hours after his death, the Greek government confirmed that this would not be a state funeral after the country’s Prime Minister chaired a meeting to decide on the most appropriate farewell to the former head of state. However, ministers confirmed that all protocols for the reception of visiting officials from abroad arriving in Greece for the funeral will be followed.
Constantine II will be buried as a private citizen. It is expected he will be laid to rest at the private cemetery at Tatoi where many of the Greek royal family are buried.
Constantine ruled Greece from 1964 until the formal abolition of the monarchy in 1974 following two referendums. He had gone into exile with Anne-Marie and their children in 1967 following a military coup.
The former monarch spent decades living away from the country he had ruled. He returned to Greece in the last years of his life.
