He was king and exile but as Constantine II was laid to rest, there were final reverences for the last King of Greece.
As family, relations and dignitaries filed into the small chapel at Tatoi where the committal ceremony for the former monarch took place, several guests gave deep curtseys to his coffin.
Among them were Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina of Spain, nieces of King Constantine. The sisters of King Felipe VI both bowed their heads as they curtsied in front of their uncle’s coffin.
Royalty from across Europe joined the Greek royal family at this final farewell for Constantine. As the short service began, his eldest son, Pavlos, led his siblings in placing a standard across the coffin while Constantine’s widow, Queen Anne-Marie, helped and then placed her wreath on top of it. Her flowers – lily of the valley, the same as her wedding bouquet – were the only blossoms on the coffin.
Constantine was later laid to rest at Tatoi with members of his family paying their respects at the graveside.
Earlier, his funeral had taken place at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens. Thousands queued from before dawn to be able to file past his coffin when it was placed in a small chapel ahead of the service.
Crown Prince Pavlos, Prince Nikolaos and Prince Philippos then took care of arranging family wreaths around the coffin after it was brought into the Cathedral for the funeral service. The princes also welcomed the guests to the Cathedral with Pavlos standing on the steps to greet the royal guests arriving.
Queen Anne-Marie arrived with her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, and then stood on the steps of the cathedral with Pavlos as the large crowd clapped and cheered to show their support. Queen Anne-Marie looked particularly moved by the ovation.
Crown Prince Pavlos gave an emotional eulogy during the service. As the funeral came to an end, the crowd began chanting his name as he led his family outside to follow the cortege taking King Constantine’s coffin to Tatoi for burial.
Constantine II, the last King of Greece, died on January 10th 2023. He ruled his country from 1964 but went into exile following a military coup in 1967. The Greek monarchy was abolished in 1974 following a referendum.
