Education of the children of Pavlos and Marie-Chantal

[NotHRH]

Originally Posted by stef

I am Greek, I live in Greece, I believe in the monarchy, I like the royal family, and it turns out for you I'm pathetic, for believe in these people. If i would comunist is possible that I would not pathetic, but I prefer be monarchy and pathetic

Stef,
I do not consider people who want the GRF restored to power in Greece as 'pathetic.' My point was that some in the GRF live in the past and they need to rid themselves of the idea that the glory days of the GRF will take place in the not-to-distant future. I am positive that this monarchy was deposed for very good reasons and grounds. They really need to realize the reality of their situation and not be looking through 'rose-colored glasses,' and their imagined glory of the restoration of a GRF is simply very 'sad' and 'pathetic' IMO!

[Bella]

Does anyone really believe that any members of the GRF truly think there is a chance that the monarchy will be restored in Greece? I'm sure it's a lingering dream, but I've always had the impression that members of the GRF are pretty realistic that the chances are slim to none, at least in Constantine's lifetime and probably Pavlos' too.

[NotHRH]

Originally Posted by BELTRANEJA

...Know greek will not change their current situation. But I think they should know it by their ancestors, were kings of Greece. This is not a legal obligation to them, this is my opinio.

I do understand your feelings about this subject. If only' s are stated all the time. If only Princess Theodora knew/would learn Greek, if only Pavlos/his children would learn Greek, etc, etc, etc............. If only I knew my grandmother's native language of Cajun French, but in reality, I do not and probably never will. My only point is - change is inevitable. Time is the measure of the way all things change and not the other way around. I know in your heart of hearts, you only want the best for your country's former royal family and only mean well toward them. It saddens me to realize you are very heart-broken that the former GRF has not taught Greek to the next generation of their family. Remember, change is inevitable - simply by the definition of 'time' itself. My heart does sincerely go out to you and I hope my comments have not saddened you further.

[IloveCP]

I understand that they don't know Greek since they don't live in Greece.Plus,it's not an easy langauge to learn!

[roimat]

Sorry, but not living in Greece isn't an excuse, especially for the wanna be Queen of Greece and her children. It's just a matter of priorities. Princes Pavlos and Nikolas lived abroad, but speak Greek perfectly, and also Princess Alexia does. Mrs Chantal Miller has other priorities, and she grows up her children as Americans. My question is, why King Constantine and Prince Pavlos let her doing that? Unless they don't have problem with that, witch, in that case, tell me a lot about what they think about the future...

[Cory]

I suppose the children are learning Greek from their own father.

[fandesacs2003]

We know that Marie-Chantal does not speak greek but the children might go to the Hellenik College of London.

[stef]

They have a Greek tutor:)

[Carminha Stalker]

Stef: I am not Greek but I LOVE the GRF. I think that they enhance the image of Greece nuch more than faceless politicians would. I don´t care what passports they have and that somebody decreed that Pavlos is not Greek even though he was born there, as well as his father was. It´s patent for me that they love to be there, not only for holidays, but for important occasions such as weddings and christenings.You are so right to believe in them.

[fandesacs2003]

I'm Greek, I'm not royalist, but i fully agree with you. This passeport story was a shame, and a stupidity. And how can you deny national feelings to someone, who is living somewhere for 4 generations!

[emmeleia]

I am also Greek...
The story with the passport had to do with the abolition of monarchy in Greece and the fact that the grf were prohibited to come to Greece....The fact is, as I have heard it from my parents because I was not born then, that in 1974 the political situation in Greece was way toooooo against the ex King....He represented sth old and everyone wanted to go forward and leave behind the old era of suppression...He made a lot of mistakes, this is undoubtful and he payed in a rather harsh way....

In my opininion, Pavlos and his family see Greece as a sightseeing attraction and as a part of their ancestors' history, concerning their glory and their success as royals and european aristocrats. They are european aristocrats far more that being Greeks....
And the fact that they do not speak greek proves it greatly.... I have heard Pavlos speaking greek...he has not an excellent level of knowledge of the greek language, by any means no. He speaks adequately, he can find his way as a tourist but he cannot develop a subject. Nikolaos speaks Greek a lot more better than his brother and Alexia also....
Children not learning greek? The last ten or more years I read that the children have a greek tutor, they study greek language etc. And yet they do not speak greek because MC says that it is difficult away from Greece..... ha ha ha ha. I speak english because I have studied it from 8 years old in school but I have never gone to England.... This is a view over learning? in order to learn sth, you have to live with it?

MC, for me, wants her children to be european aristocrats and businesspeople....
I cannot believe in any way that they want to come here.... Live in London in wealth and glory and come in Athens? it is a joke!
Constantine is another chapter because he has lived in Greece and bears the pain of losing his monarchy...

[Devoe]

On the subject of languages.

I speak, read and write English and French fluently. I can speak and read tourist Spanish and I speak and understand Low German. I am of Irish descent. I do not speak Gaelic, but I still consider myself Irish. I am sure that HRH Crown Prince Pavlos and his family feel the same way. That said, anyone who thinks that learning a foreign language is a waste of time if you don't live in a country where that language is spoken? They live in a very small world, and its not one I would personally want to be a part of.

As for the fact that Greek should be the children's first language - I have many friends whose parents speak too different languages. Usually the kids learn to speak one language to Dad and another to Mom. My ex-fiance was Low German, and my grasp of the language, pronunciation wise is weak at best - so our plan was English as a family, Low German to Dad and French to Mom - we have no way of knowing the personal details of how MC and Pavlos live their lives unless they make it public. So perhaps we shouldn't judge.