Thousands of people are queuing to pay their final respects to Constantine II, the last King of Greece, ahead of his funeral in Athens.
The coffin of the former monarch was brought to a small chapel at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens early on the morning of January 16th 2023. A queue had already formed as people came to say a final farewell to the man who ruled Greece for almost ten years.
Many were there before the sun had risen to be sure of being able to file past his coffin. Some carried Greek flags, others held photos of Constantine and some had brought flowers. The doors to the chapel were opened to mourners at 6am.
Constantine II died on January 10th 2023 in Athens. Within hours, the Greek government decided there would be no state funeral although, usually, it is an honour accorded to former heads of state.
The only opportunity for people to pay their own tributes came on the morning of his funeral when his family brought the king’s coffin to the small chapel ahead of his funeral services. Large crowds were already waiting and, once the doors to the chapel were open, began to file past to pay their respects. Many stopped to kiss the coffin as they walked past, some bowed their heads while others were seen saluting.
As the morning went on, the queue continued to form, stretching into streets beyond the cathedral.
Outside the cathedral, lines of wreaths for Constantine were placed on the walls on either side of the main doors. HIs funeral service will be followed by burial at Tatoi, the cemetery of the Greek royal family.
Royalty from around Europe has come to Athens to say farewell to Constantine. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, his sister in law, and King Felipe VI of Spain, his nephew, were among the first to arrive. His sisters, Queen Sofia of Spain and Princess Irene of Greece, have been in Athens since early January when their brother’s health began to fail.
Constantine II became King of the Hellenes in 1964 but was forced into exile in a military coup in 1967. The Greek monarchy was abolished in 1974 following a referendum. Constantine finally returned to Greece in the last years of his life. He died in Athens with his family at his side.
His widow, Queen Anne-Marie, and his children including eldest son and heir, Crown Prince Pavlos, will lead mourners at the funeral.
