Princess Irene (1942-), sister of King Constantine

[mariazil]

Well, it's a bit of progress, considering the attitude of the media towards Constantine and the Royal Family in general. I don't think the word "rebel" is proper for Irene. I'm sure it was unusual for a Royal Princess of her generation not to want to marry and prefer to study and travel, so, yes, perhaps she seemed peculiar. Nowadays, it doesn't seem that strange!

 

[frank22]

Princess Beatriz de Orleans said to El Magazine (a spanish magazine of El Mundo newspaper) that Princess Irene de Grecia had an affair with Prince Michel de Orleans. Check the interview:

ELMUNDO.ES | SUPLEMENTOS | MAGAZINE 523 | "Compartir la vida a esta edad que tengo, me parece patético"

 

[BELTRANEJA]

she says that when she met her future husband Michel of Orleans, this was the boyfriend of Princess Irene of Greece ..in conclusion, she removed the boyfriend to Irene.

Beatrix has forgotten her own lessons, she always says a woman must be discreet ... I see that it is easy of say and hard to put it into practice.

I say this because Beatrice participates into magazines and on juries, having list of women more elegants and less .. and judging the behavior of these women,She is always giving lessons in good manners and judging by this women..I think a elegant woman must be discrete (she said it too..)

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

Tonight, Tuesday, October 13, Princess Irene, dined with an elegant middle-aged couple, at Filippou, a cosy and simple restaurant with superb food, in fashionable Kolonaki district, in Athens. Filippou is rather inexpensive, located on Xenokratous street, frequented by the intellectual elite and the sophisticated locals as an everyday eatery. The princess was simply dressed in a dark gray two-piece and a pink scarf. She stayed there from around 8:30 pm until past 11:30 pm., was very talkative and seemed to enjoy very much the evening.
The staff were fully aware of who she was but most patrons were oblivious of her presence. She was treated with courtesy and great affection.

 

[BELTRANEJA]

Princess Irene attended a performance of Theater in Athens http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3659/irenez.jpg</p>

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

Well. hello everybody!
This interview is already almost a year old.
Its purpose, I believe, was to show the Greek public there is a not-so-well-known member of the Royal Family who leads a not-so-royal life. Princess Irene is not what we could call a "typical" Royal.
.

Princess Irene is extremely well known to the Greek public, or as well as as the former King, Queen Ann-Marie and Queen Sofia.
First of all because she served for almost a-year-and-a-half in a constitutional capacity (from her father's death in March 1964 - 'til summer 1965 when Princess Alexia was born) as Diadoch, that is, Heir to the Throne.
Second, because, as a pianist, she has performed repeatedly in her youth, a quatre mains, for the Greek public with her teacher Gina Bahauer.
Third, because she is well respected and admired as an activist who has helped the poor in third-world countries.
It was this fact that prompted the interview by Mr. Theodorakis.

Otherwise, apart from gossip tabloids, the Greek media rarely if ever occupy themesleves with the lives of members of the former royal family. They come and go and no one is aware, except for Queen Sofia who receives full publicity due to her position as the consort of a sovereign and her presence in formal events.

 

[Maura724]

Interesting - are you saying that Irene is more popular and better known in Greece than Constantine and Anne-Marie? Was it always this way - was she as respected/liked as a young woman when the family was still on the throne?

 

[susan alicia]

It is better that way, remaining in its original form as long as it is restored in the proper manner in the near future. It is difficult when it is restored by people "who do not know" and then getting the place back to its former state.

In the first video she says the greeks have a bigger connection to India than to Europe . She took a lot of cows from Spain and Holland to Bangalore because people were starving. I presume for the milk since Indians do not slaughter cows (I think).

I recognize the big urns around the swimming pool from an engagement party for JC and Sofia.

The place looks so unkempt now, it must be sad for them to see it like that

.

 

[stef]

The Greek television channel that issued the interview of Princess Irene, is a closed channel or payment, and is funded by the Church....

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

Interesting - are you saying that Irene is more popular and better known in Greece than Constantine and Anne-Marie? Was it always this way - was she as respected/liked as a young woman when the family was still on the throne?

Constantine, Anne-Marie, Sofia and Irene are all very well, more or less equally, known in Greece.
Popularity-wise, an educated guess is that, despite receiving the least publicity, Irene is by far the most liked among them, due to her activism (good deeds) and spirituality; Sofia is a close second, also well liked because of candor, low-key profile and her impeccable record as queen.
Anne-Marie was much liked as queen-consort due to good looks and disarming smile - certainly, she has no enemies in Greece. In contrast, 35 years after the referendum, King Constantine is still quite unpopular and continues to attract negative comments.

 

[Odette]

All the polemics have been directed at the King and Queen Frederika. It is true that the rest of the family has been spared since none of them was involved in the country's political affaires.
Queen Sofia creates quite a stir every time she visits Greece and these who still remember her from her adolescent years have nothing but compliments for her.
I agree on your assessments on all the other members of the family.
At least those who are known to the majority of the Greeks.

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

The Greek television channel that issued the interview of Princess Irene, is a closed channel or payment, and is funded by the Church....

If I am not mistaken, it was MEGA channel, the one belonging to Lambrakis Publishing Company. Mr. Lambrakis, the publisher of highly influential newspapers, is also the creator of the Megaron Mousikis, a modern Hall for conserts and other major events. He is very involved with classical music and, I understand, Princess Irene serves as consultant or advisor for the Megaron Mousikis repertoire.

 

[iceflower]

Princess Irene attended the presentation of the Kitin Munoz's
book "Moussem Tan Tan'' together with Princess Kalina of
Bulgaria on November 17, 2009 in Madrid, Spain.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **

 

[Odette]

I believe Princess Irene is one of the Godparent's to Princess Kalina's son.

 

[BELTRANEJA]

thank you by pictures!!! I don´t like of changes of look of Princess Kalina.

 

[magnik]

Princess Iene look like typical Greek.
About Kalina... that's all Kalina. Artist, wilde princess.

 

[susan alicia]

I do not think she has a drop of Greek blood, must be in her spirit.

Princess Iene look like typical Greek.
About Kalina... that's all Kalina. Artist, wilde princess.

 

[frank22]

She said in a recent interview (from Spain) that Prince Felipe of Borbon have a lot of traits (he is very similar to) from the father of Queen Sofia of Spain. He is like a clon of his maternal grandfather.

 

[mybags]

Princess Irene attended the presentation of the Kitin Munoz's
book "Moussem Tan Tan'' together with Princess Kalina of
Bulgaria on November 17, 2009 in Madrid, Spain.


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **

The third picture also shows Prince Konstantin of Bulgaria, Prince of Vidin, seated next to Princess Irene.

 

[BELTRANEJA]

I think that she has a style own of a Hindu woman, it is a style very spiritual.

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

The above pictures of Princess Irene do not do her justice. In real time, she looks way better.

 

[Maura724]

Were you able to see her in real life at some point?

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

Yes, I saw her some two months ago. She and I were sitting, facing each other, although in different tables, but not more that 15 feet apart, in an Athenian restaurant - so, inevitably, I had the opportunity to capture her gaze repeatedly. Although she appears to have some skin imperfections which must date back to her childhood and may be residuals of (perhaps) chickenpox, her smile and overall looks are utterly enticing. The only thing I found somewhat bizarre were the rather dull colors and a specific dress-style as if she belonged to an spiritual order.

 

[emmeleia]

ebook

In the greek Life and Style, December 2009, there is an article about Princess Irene. titled "the courageous confession in her new biography" where, according to the cover page, she states that "cancer came to her life as a catharsis"...

I did not know that she suffered from cancer... I am deeply sorry...

 

[BELTRANEJA]

I remember it, she was admitted to Madrid's Ruber Hospital, was detected breast cancer, she spoke about it with a spanish journalist that haD wrote about Princess Irene two years ago, she had to undergo chemotherapy .....

 

[Maura724]

Is there a new biography on Irene, or is the article talking about the one released a couple years ago? Could you give us a summary of the rest of the article?

 

[emmeleia]

Indeed the article concerns the biography released a couple of years ago.

 

[fandesacs2003]

I do not think she has a drop of Greek blood, must be in her spirit.

She does not have a drop of Greek blood "biologically" speaking, BUT how can we say than one family after 100 years to a country does not belong to this country?? Children of emigres, first generation, are considered to be nationals of the country where they live. Just after only one or two decades in their new countrz! Imagine after one Century!

Yves Montant was considered French, but he was Italian, raised up in France!

 

[Odette]

Absolutely! They speak the language, adopted the faith and either fought with or trained (until King Constantine's time) in the Greek Armed forces. Besides they also settled their tax liabilities to the Greek State.
That is more than some other citizens of the country can claim.

 

[Vlaha Karatsokaros]

On Wednesday, December 23, 2009, princess Irene attended the funeral of the most influential newspaper publisher in Greece, the late Christos Lambrakis. Mr Lambrakis was the soul and president of the Megaron Mousikis foundation to which princess Irene serves as consultant.