Queen Sofia of Spain was supported by two of her granddaughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, as funeral ceremonies began for Princess Irene of Greece.
Irene, Sofia’s younger sister, died on January 15 at the age of 83 at her home at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.
The first of her funeral ceremonies was held at the Orthodox Cathedral of St Andrew and St Demetrius in Madrid on January 17 with her Spanish relations in full attendance.
Queen Sofia, 87, was accompanied into the cathedral by Leonor, 20, and Sofia, 18, while King Felipe and Queen Letizia led mourners in.
The coffin of Princess Irene, covered in a flag bearing the crest of the Greek royal family, was later carried into the church. Irene was born a Princess of Greece and Denmark and was, briefly, heir to the Greek throne when her older brother, Constantine, became King of the Hellenes in 1963.
Some of Irene’s Greek royal relatives joined this first memorial ceremony and many more will be at her funeral in Athens which will be followed by burial at the royal cemetery at Tatoi.
Alexia, the daughter of King Constantine who replaced Irene as heir to the throne, was there along with her children. Alexia walked in with her cousin, Infanta Cristina, younger daughter of Queen Sofia.
Cristina’s sister, Infanta Elena, also attended along with her daughter, Victoria de Marichalar. Her son, Froilan, wasn’t there – he now lives in Abu Dhabi which is also home to his grandfather, King Juan Carlos, who didn’t make the trip to Madrid for Irene’s funeral ceremony. El Pais reported that doctors had decided that the long trip, at such short notice, wasn’t good for his health.
However, his sister, Infanta Margarita, was at the service.
Infanta Cristina named her only daughter after Princess Irene and Irene Urdangarin attended the service along with two of her brothers, Juan and Miguel.
Queen Sofia was supported throughout the service by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia and walked out on the arm of her son, King Felipe VI. The chapel was open to the public in the hours that followed so that others could pay their own last respects to Princess Irene.
Irene’s funeral in Athens takes place on January 18 2026 with King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their two daughters travelling to Greece with Queen Sofia. Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown Princess Marie Chantal will join them along with other members of the Greek royal family for a final farewell.
