Splodger said:
I think most Royals consider that once a Soverign House, always a Soverign House. So they will consider an ex-King a King and their decendents there after the highest rank held by that family. In most royal events the Count of Paris is accredited as such with the Style HRH even though the monarchy was abolished in France over a hundred years ago. Therefore regardless of the chances of restoration, Constantine and his decendents are the legitimate Royal claiment to a Kingdom of Greece and are likely to be considered and treated as such by their "Royal Colleagues" until such time they no longer wish to be known as such (King Simeon played down his title when he entred Bulgarian politcs) It is also hardley suprising as they are all related anyway and its just one big exclusive club.
I think people are getting confused between the difference in the courtesies extended to former reigning houses among the royal families of Europe, and the legal and diplomatic status accorded to various individuals of royal lineage.
First, the monarchy of the United Kingdom reigns above all others. The Sovereign of Great Britian, as represented by HM the Queen, holds the ultimate fount of honour among all the current European royal families, with the exception of the Imperial House of Romanov and the Danish throne, because every single one of them are descendants of Queen Victoria. As such, it is generally accepted that the Queen decides what style and titles are recognized in the UK, in consultation with the Government, and these determinations are more or less followed by the royal houses of Europe in terms of protocol with each other.
Secondly, regardless of current status, all of the royals, whether currently reigning or not, generally accord each other the appropriate precedence and style of each head of the royal houses as a matter of courtesy. Keep in mind, however, this courtesy of precedence is generally only accorded to the HEAD of the house, their spouse, and their eldest child. The rest of the members of the family are NOT considered royal if they are non-reigning families.
Third, some former royals are officially recognized by their home countries as royal, most notably in France. The heads of the former reigning families of France, HRH the Count de Paris, Duc de France, Prince Napoleon and the dukes of the House of Bourbon are all accorded precedence and recognition by the French Government legally and diplomatically. In Germany, the former royal families are accorded legal recognition of their titles as a surname (i.e. Georg-Freidrich, Prince of Hohenzollern). Prince Ernst-August, Prince of Hanover is recognized by the German Republic as HRH and Prince of the UK as he is a British citizen and member of the British royal family.
King Constantine is considered to be a former Sovereign as he did actually reign in Greece. However, whether he is addressed as His Majesty King of the Hellenes, is a matter of private courtesy, but officially is incorrect.