The final resting place of Constantine II now bears a carved tribute to the last King of Greece.
The tombstone was revealed as the 40 day anniversary of the king’s passing was marked with memorial services in Athens and at Tatoi where Constantine was laid to rest in the Greek Royal Family’s burial site. The services were attended by his family.
The king’s widow, Queen Anne-Marie, led her five children at the ceremony which took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Greek capital, the same place where Constantine’s funeral was held in January.
Queen Sofia of Spain and Princess Irene of Greece, Constantine’s two sisters, were also at the service on February 18th 2023.
The first glimpse of the permanent memorial to Constantine came hours later. It reads ”Constantine II, King of the Hellenes, Prince of Denmark”. The king’s dates are then given: b. in Athens 2 June 1940 – d. in Athens 10 January 2023. Beneath this is another tribute which reads ”Olympic champion”.
At the bottom of the grave are words from the Gospel of St. John. It is a tradition of the Greek Royal Family to include a Bible inscription on tombs. Constantine’s grave carries the lines ”God is love, and whoever abides in love, abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the monarchy was abolished following a referendum in 1974. He had left the country for exile in 1967 following a military coup.
The last King of Greece died on January 10th 2023 at the age of 82.
