Death and Funeral of Princess Irene of Greece: January 2026

[Blog Real]

Princess Irene died at the age of 83.


Statement from the Spanish Royal Household:

"Their Majesties the King and Queen and Her Majesty Queen Sofia regret to announce the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece at 11:40 today at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid".

Muere Irene de Grecia, inseparable hermana de la reina Sofía, a los 83 años

La hija pequeña de los reyes Pablo y Federica residía en España desde la década de los años 80

www.hola.com

Statement from the Greek Royal Household:

It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones.

Details will follow regarding the funeral procession.

Private Office of the Greek Royal Family –

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PASSING OF HRH PRINCESS IRENE

www.greekroyalfamily.gr

 

[Hans-Rickard]

How terribly sad for Queen Sofia to loose both her best friend and her little sister in such short succession… Life is cruel sometimes

All my love to the Spanish and Greek Royal Families.

Rest in peace Princess Irene. I’m sure your brother and your parents awaits you with open arms at the heavenly gates.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

I cannot imagine how it feels for Queen Sofía of Spain to lose the two loved ones who were her closest confidants, her sister Irene and her dearest friend (and second cousin) Tatiana Fruchaud (née Radziwill), within weeks of one another.

One hopes others around her will step in to comfort her through the grief and loneliness.

 

[An Ard Ri]

How terribly sad for Queen Sofia ,may Princess Irene rest in Peace
Her brother's Anniversary falls in January , then her cousin and now her sister have passed within a month.

Heart-breaking time for the kings mother.

Obituaries to the late Princess , daughter of a king ,and sister to a King and Queen.
Her steadfast loyalty to her sister Queen Sofia was unwavering and before her recent ill health a constant at most Spanish and Greek Royal Events.
Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark Has Died
Princess Irene of Greece's life in pictures: the concert pianist Princess who grew up in exile and donated her fortune to charity
Princess Irene of Greece has Died

 

[TLLK]

Condolences to Queen Sofia and her family.

 

[eejm]

Oh wow. Sofia has lost two of the people closest to her in a matter of a few weeks.

 

[Lipe]

Prince Pavlos spoke about his aunt's health as he left his home in Athens to attend a memorial service at his father's grave in Tatoi Cemetery (Greek television asked him about it).

Crown Prince Pavlos speaks about the condition of his aunt, Princess Irene, noting: "My aunt Irene has grown older and we hope she is as well as possible. These are the difficulties of age."

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.

www.facebook.com

Princess Alexia of Greece did not attend her father's memorial service because she stayed in Madrid to be with her aunt, Princess Irene.

Careful, Pavlos's words weren't complete.
I just read that in the interview with Pavlos, when he was getting into his car, he told the journalist that she are difficulties of old age, and " our day will come to us all".
I'm not a good translator, but I hope you understand. He told her something like, "Death will come to us all," implying that his aunt was in that final stage of life. He was announcing that his aunt's health was at its end.

Statement from the Greek Royal House.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PASSING OF HRH PRINCESS IRENE​

It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones.
Details will follow regarding the funeral procession.

Private Office of the Greek Royal Family –

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PASSING OF HRH PRINCESS IRENE

www.greekroyalfamily.gr

 

[An Ard Ri]

Oh wow. Sofia has lost two of the people closest to her in a matter of a few weeks.

And it was the anniversary of her late brother too 5 days ago.
Terribly sad time for the queen.

 

[IRIS1983]

I feel sorry for Queen Sofia. She was the eldest of her siblings, and in a short time, her brother and her sister and her best friends have passed away: King Constantine in 2023, Prince Michel in 2024, Tatiana Radziwill in 2025, and now Princess Irene.
I feel very sorry for Queen Sofia.

The Official Web of the Royal House of Greece, has published this bipographical information and beutiful photos of the Princess Irene´s life

HRH PRINCESS IRENE

www.greekroyalfamily.gr

 

[Stefan]

Very sad News specially for Queen Sofia

 

[fandesacs2003]

How sad for Queen Sofia to be the oldest of the 2 siblings and lose them both. Her close cousin also. And all in January as month. She was also close to Michel de Grece and he passed also. So sad.
I hope her daughters stay close with her and support her.
RIP princess Irini. So sad.

 

[suztav]

Very sad. May her soul rest in peace.

 

[Blog Real]

The Spanish Royal Household has revealed that a wake will be held in Spain in the coming days, after which her remains will be transferred to Greece for burial in the Royal Cemetery of Tatoi.

Velatorio en España y entierro en Tatoi: el deseo de la princesa Irene de Grecia para su último adiós

La familia real española y griega se despide de la princesa Irene, fallecida a los 83 años, en un emotivo adiós que tendrá lugar primero en España y después en Grecia

www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com

The reaction of the Romanian Royal Family to the death of Princess Irene.

The Royal Family of Romania learned with sadness the news of the passing of HRH Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, daughter of King Pavlos and Queen Frederica of the Hellenes, born in 1942. Princess Irene was a first cousin of King Michael. An erudite intellectual, HRH was interested throughout her life in philosophy, archaeology and history, literature and foreign languages. The Princess was a talented pianist and a devoted servant of social causes. She was the founder of the organization “Mundo en Armonia”, which she led for several decades. Queen Mother Helen, like King Michael, Queen Anne and their daughters, were always very close to the entire Royal Family of Greece, in all generations. Princess Irene was a person of great spiritual sensitivity, generous and modest, discreet and profound. Her Majesty Margareta and the entire family retain a warm memory, deep affection and great admiration for her chosen moral and intellectual profile. May God rest her in peace!

Romanian Royal Family on Instagram: "Familia Regală a României a aflat cu mâhnire vestea trecerii la Domnul a ASR Principesei Irina a Greciei și Danemarcei, fiică a Regelui Pavlos și a Reginei Frederica ai elenilor, născută în anul 1942. Principesa I

2,262 likes, 43 comments - familiaregalaaromaniei on January 15, 2026: "Familia Regală a României a aflat cu mâhnire vestea trecerii la Domnul a ASR Principesei Irina a Greciei și Danemarcei, fiică a Regelui Pavlos și a Reginei Frederica ai elenilor, născută în anul 1942. Principesa Irina a fost...

www.instagram.com

Principesa Irina a Greciei și Danemarcei, In Memoriam | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania

Video of the hearse carrying the remains of Princess Irene of Greece leaving the Zarzuela Palace under a heavy security detail.

Los restos mortales de Irene de Grecia abandonan La Zarzuela con una gran comitiva de seguridad

Los restos mortales de Irene de Grecia, la hermana de la Reina Emérita Sofía que ha fallecido ...

www.abc.es

 

[Toledo]

So sad to read on her passing. This is a tough moment for Queen Sofia losing her brother King Constantine, her second cousin and life-long friend Princess Tatiana Radziwill and now her sister Princess Irene in such a short time.
Rest in peace Princess Irene.

Heartbreak as royal dies aged 83 after difficult health battle

"...she was surrounded by family at the time. A statement from the Greek Royal Family read: "It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2016, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones. Details will follow regarding the funeral procession."​

​

---

I found these two YouTube video documentaries that bring light to her life, for those who didn't know much of her younger years as a princess that almost married one of the princes of House Orleans

Quotes from the video that now feel like an eulogy to her memory:

"...By modern standards, her life could be called a failure. But Irene was not unhappy. By all accounts, she was the most centered and peaceful member of her family. She found joy not in what she had, but in what she was. ​

​

She proved that you can live in a palace and be a monk, and you can live in exile and be a queen. She redefined the spare...She showed that the spare can be the support beam that holds the whole house up. Without Irene, Queen Sophia might not have survived the loneliness of her marriage. Without Irene, the Greek family might have fractured under the stress of exile. She was the glue..." ​

...Irene of Greece walked away from the fairy tale to find the truth. And in a world that is constantly shouting, constantly demanding to be seen, constantly fighting for power, the woman who chose loneliness, the woman who chose silence might just be the only one who truly won. She was the princess who didn't need a kingdom. She carried it. "​

Princess Irene Christening in 1942

 

[Minister of Court]

Another one of the old guard gone. She was a true blueblooded princess of a bygone era, creature of the rapidly vanishing world of yesteryear.

May Her Royal Highness rest in peace.

 

[Kinan]

According to journalist Jose Moreno

The Princess Irene's lying in state will be set up in the coming hours at the Zarzuela Palace, as part of a private family ceremony. This Saturday, her remains will be transferred to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew and Saint Demetrius in Madrid. Finally, on Monday, Princess Irene will be taken to Greece, where she will be given a final farewell in Athens before being buried in the Tatoi Cemetery.

The Royal Household also emphasized that "Princess Irene was a much-loved member of His Majesty the King's family, who have already expressed their deep sorrow at the loss of someone dedicated to helping those most in need through her charitable projects."

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011835865543143459

 

[hereditarytitles]

Here is a lovely video of "Gala" about Princess Irene. Sorry, only in German, but a very nice remembrance.

"Some farewells are quiet and, precisely for that reason, leave a special depth. With Princess Irene of Greece, the Spanish royal family loses not just a member, but a woman whose life was characterized by quiet strength, closeness, and unconventional decisions."

Prinzessin Irene (†83): Mehr als eine Schwester der Königin von Spanien

Prinzessin Irene von Griechenland ist im Alter von 83 Jahren im Zarzuela-Palast in Madrid verstorben, Königin Sofía wich ihr bis zuletzt nicht von der Seite. Ein Nachruf an eine ungewöhnliche Frau, die still inspirierte.

www.gala.de

Some more photos of Princess Irene from the past.

Fast-Königin + Romanzen "mit Dritten": Das bewegte Leben von Prinzessin Irene (†) in Bildern

Prinzessin Irene von Griechenland ist tot. GALA blickt auf das bewegte Leben einer Prinzessin zurück, deren Lebensaufgabe es war, ihren eigenen Weg zu gehen.

www.gala.de

 

[Somebody]

The Official Web of the Royal House of Greece, has published this bipographical information and beutiful photos of the Princess Irene´s life

HRH PRINCESS IRENE

www.greekroyalfamily.gr

That’s a great read. Her love for India in particular shines through. I am sorry to read that World in Harmony ceased to exist when the princess was no longer able to oversee it but it might have already dwindled down by that point. It would have been lovely if one of her nieces had been her successor.

 

[IRIS1983]

According to journalist Jose Moreno

https://twitter.com/x/status/2011835865543143459

I don't believe this information. The Spanish Royal Household hasn't released any official statement yet, but this person is saying that her funeral will be in Madrid and that only the burial will take place in Tatoi, Greece.
I don't believe this. I believe her funeral will be in the Athens Cathedral, followed by her burial in Tatoi. She was the daughter of a king, and I have read that she has the right to have her funeral in the cathedral.

I agree that in the biography on the Web, it shows the union of Irene with India. This could also be present at her funeral ceremony, that connection with India

 

[lula]

I don't believe this information. The Spanish Royal Household hasn't released any official statement yet, but this person is saying that her funeral will be in Madrid and that only the burial will take place in Tatoi, Greece.
I don't believe this. I believe her funeral will be in the Athens Cathedral, followed by her burial in Tatoi. She was the daughter of a king, and I have read that she has the right to have her funeral in the cathedral.

The Royal Household has already sent the information to the Spanish media. The wake will be held in strict privacy at the Zarzuela Palace until Saturday, when the coffin will be transferred to the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Andrew and Saint Demetrius, where it will lie in state for a few hours .

The funeral will be held on Monday in Athens and the burial in Tatoi. No media specifies the location of the funeral in Athens.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Coming so soon after the loss of Princess Tatiana Radziwill, HM Queen Sofia must be desolate.

It's a blessing to reach old age(assuming that one is comfortable and reasonably healthy), but the downside is that you experience the pain of losing loved ones.

RIP Princess Irene.

 

[IRIS1983]

The official website also published photos of the memorial marking the third anniversary of King Constantine's death.

These photos show the current state of the Tatoi cemetery; the authorities haven't planted any trees, and there's a lot of overgrown vegetation. Princess Irene will be laid to rest there in the coming days.

Επιμνημόσυνη Δέηση Βασιλέως Κωνσταντίνου

www.greekroyalfamily.gr

In this photo, we can see a lot of neglect on the part of the authorities.

https://www.greekroyalfamily.gr/templates/yootheme/cache/b3/HMKC260115_1195ar-b34634ac.jpeg

And the trees surrounding the King's tomb....

https://scontent-mad1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/615406650_26122940640631873_1238962880165375415_n.webp?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=5YfiBeDgLGYQ7kNvwGDCCZ7&_nc_oc=Adm6nwKyDhUCINuBP9sxo4Ns1ojxrUugjRBZGbOnTh37qTefArizqUTxdHtv56xOjWw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-mad1-1.xx&_nc_gid=eoXSU7HC5oxrBMGBPINf6w&oh=00_AfpLq5gq_7KVG_6A2gM41dpxJoD_VKirnTHmySsHRtBCnQ&oe=696EFD8A

Congratulations to the authorities for neglecting the estate.

 

[doro]

May she RIP

 

[Kinan]

Video of the hearse carrying the remains of Princess Irene of Greece leaving the Zarzuela Palace under a heavy security detail.

Los restos mortales de Irene de Grecia abandonan La Zarzuela con una gran comitiva de seguridad

Los restos mortales de Irene de Grecia, la hermana de la Reina Emérita Sofía que ha fallecido ...

www.abc.es

Leaving Zarzuela to where? I thought the wake will be held at the Zarzuela Palace.

 

[tihkon2]

Leaving Zarzuela to where? I thought the wake will be held at the Zarzuela Palace.

I would assume the undertakers.

 

[IRIS1983]

I don't understand; according to the Spanish media, the chapel has been installed in the Zarzuela Palace, but the departure of the hearse shows that this is not the case.

 

[Lipe]

This may have a simple explanation. Princess Irene's body is going to be moved to another country; the body needs to be prepared and shrouded before the transfer, so her body may have left the Palace for this preparation.

The Orthodox Church of Spain and Portugal expresses its condolences for the death of Princess Irene, with a very beautiful photo.

https://fosfanariou.gr/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/616813432_1267177732108524_4295290429538116944_n-696x1237.jpg

Η Μητρόπολη Ισπανίας και Πορτογαλίας για την εκδημία της Πριγκιπίσσης Ειρήνης - Φως Φαναρίου

Η Ιερά Μητρόπολη Ισπανίας και Πορτογαλίας προσεύχεται για την ανάπαυση της ψυχής της ΑΒΥ Πριγκιπίσσης ΕΙΡΗΝΗΣ της Ελλάδος και της Δανίας, πιστής ορθδόξου χριστιανής, η οποία υπήρξε άνθρωπος αγάπης, ελεημοσύνης και προσφοράς. Είθε η μνήμη της να είναι αιωνία. La Santa Metrópolis de España y...

fosfanariou.gr

 

[stef]

This is quite possible; I read that her chapel will be set up in the Zarzuela Palace, but it's obvious that her body must be prepared for transport to another country. Incidentally, this means that the ritual of opening the coffin before burial will not be observed.

 

[Countessmeout]

RIP to a wonderful woman.

Condolences to the whole family. But especially Sofia. I can't even imagine the pain of losing her little sister only weeks after her closest friend and cousin.

 

[An Ard Ri]

It will very lonely for Sofia now at Zarzuela on her own and having lost her beloved cousin and sister in the space of a month.
Princess Irene was such a discreet loyal lady and will be sadly missed.