Greek Royals at the Athens Olympics 2004

[Alexandra]

Originally Posted by Lyonnaise

Here's a interview with King Constantine given during the Olympics. There's also a video clip...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5723866/

Thank you, Lyonnaise very much for the address of that video clip!

Does anyone know another video clips in the Internet of Greek Royals?

[Philippe Egalite']

Originally Posted by Conde Valleverde

No, the Junta did not pass a referendum: it just abolished monarchy. In 1974 the Junta left power after half of the island of Cyprus was invaded by Turkey. After the Junta had left power, a referendum took place. I believe 35 % of the Greeks voted in favour of the re-establishment of monarchy. The rest voted for republic. Technically the results of the referendum were fair. Nevertheless, King Constantinos was not allowed to go to Greece during the referendum campaign in order to get support for the monarchy. Apparently, Prime Minister Karamanlis, who organized the referendum, had promised the King that he would call him to Greece for campaigning. But he did not. The Greek royal family was very upset with Karamanlis because of that. For that reason, years later, when Karamanlis, then new President of the Greek Republic, visited Spain, Queen Sofía took her revenge: for the state dinner at the Madrid Royal Palace she wore not only her best tiara, but the Greek Royal Order band accross her chest (she has only wore that band once in Spain: in that dinner )

This is not correct. George Papadopoulos, the dictator, ablosihed the monarchy on June 1, 1973 and held a fraudulent referendum in July of 1973.
Thus, the Second Hellenic Republic started on June 1, 1973. The Junta collapsed in July 1974 during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. The Second Republic lasted until December 8, 1974, when a referendum was held by the Karamanlis government. The result was 30% in favor of the monarchy. Thus, the Third Greek Republic started on December 8, 1974. The referendum itself was conducted impeccably but it is acknowledged that the king did not have adequate time or opportunity to present his point of view. Nonetheless, it is widely agreed by historians and analysts alike that even under the rosiest of circumstances the royal cause would have not received more that 40-44%.