If you check the two last centuries history proved that when a country decides to mistreat their royal family, generaly it goes further than just the exile.... remember of the French revolution, of the Tsar's destiny, of what happened to Bavarian Maximilian, first King of Mexico, etc, etc, I do not mean that it was an example to follow, but when big social and political crashes arrive in a country, some times there is no pity,... is sad to say but it happens. So you can not say that Greece mistreated their royals, by JUST chassing them, they could have done much much worst....
Generally it does not go further then excile, the examples you give are the only ones which were very violant that I can recall. Most treated their royals on excile or not even that. There are plenty of examples: Roumania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Austria, Brazil, Portugal, France (1 time violent, 4 times peacefull: Napoleon, Bourbon, Orleans, Napoleon), Prussia, Wurttemberg, Hannover,etc.
I never said Greece as a whole mistreated them, but certain politicians used them as their pawns/scapegoats, which was easily taken over by their followers. If I created the impression that 'Greece' as a whole mistreated the Greek RF, I want to correct that now, there were and are still plenty of greek people who treat them with respect or at least cordially.
My impressions are mainly based on books I read about the greek royal families and what surprised me most is that the RF was cheered at very often, people trying to persuade the RF not to leave and trying to stop the cars from leaving the palace in 1919 (?), but just a few years before two members of the greek RF were put on a public trial (from what I read, mainly because of public sentiment, manipulated by some parties), and a few years later the public sentiment seemed changed yet again against the monarchy.
He died very fast, his parents were exiled, when he accepted to be the King he knew that situation, that his father and elder brother had been obliged to resign in his favour, these events are "State Reasons". Sometimes royals or politicians are obliged to accept behaviors who look cruels for the middle human.
Remember in our days, Princess Maxima gor married but she was not allowed to invite her father in the wedding. Would you say that Holland mistreated her???
The guy was only 20 (or so) when he accepted and he did his duty to his father, family and country. I agree that he accepted his new role, but to have no contact with his relatives, not even on the telephone, was not part of this and was a rule of a later date.
He died fast, but it still took several days before they allowed any family member to see him. Sadly, this delay stopped his grandmother Queen Olga from beeing with him, and she arrived just half a day late or so. If she was allowed instantly to come, or even better, if his parents/mother were allowed instantly to come, they would have been their on time. It was very cruel of the people who were in charge then.
Being married without a father or to die alone is something different in my opinion. Maxima is not forbidden to see her father now, in fact she even saw him a few hours after the wedding.
You are right, greek Royals being exiled were quite poor, but this was normal in these days, royal had not realised that their position was not strong enough for the next centuries, and most of them did not hide much money abroad, for these kind of events. All Russian royalty and aristocracy was very poor in exile, last Austro-Hungarian Emperor (I do not recall the name, Zita's husband) also, he was soo poor abroad, he died from cold and starving, that's sad but they were EXILED, this behavior was not proper to Greece towards GRF.
My remarks on the financial status of the greek RF was a reply to the remark that the RF could keep up their status because of Greece. I thought you implied that the greek RF received much money from Greece and they could live in style because of that. I pointed out that much more was needed to live like that, even when they still were in Greece. Prince Nicholas financed his palace with the money of his russian wife for example. Prince Andrew, who did not have a rich wife, lived relatively modest, hence the stories that Prince Phillip was born on 'a kitchentable' (which I read in several books about the british royals, though it is probably completely wrong).
I agree with your assesment on the relatively poor financial status of exciled royalty.
Having all this said, I hope you do not take my comments the wrong way, I have nothing against Greece or greeks.
Horrible in the case of royal families though.
