Death and Funeral of Princess Irene of Greece: January 2026

[Hans-Rickard]

I thought Princess Benedikte would attend… She has usually been the one taking care of these engagements, when the funeral is not for a King or a Queen…

Queen Margrethe maybe feels the terrain at Tatoi is a bit too difficult for her legs nowdays… She visibly struggled there at Constantine’s funeral…

 

[Blog Real]

Perhaps Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte were not very close to Princess Irene.

Tatiana Blatnik on Princess Irene:

Dear Princess Irene,
It is with a heavy heart that you leave this world, but also leaving us so much light.
I feel blessed to have known you and grateful for the guidance you gave me when I moved to Greece, introducing me and taking me to meet organisations, artisans, into soup kitchens, all over athens with so much energy, the pure spirit of service, humility and always humour, compassion and kindness.
You touched many lives around the world and through your example, you will continue to do so.
You will be missed by so many.
May you rest in peace.
With love and light,
Tatiana

Tatiana Blatnik | Dear Princess Irene, It is with a heavy heart that you leave this world, but also leaving us so much light. I feel blessed to have known... | Instagram

8,965 likes, 221 comments - tatianablatnik on January 19, 2026: "Dear Princess Irene, It is with a heavy heart that you leave this world, but also leaving us so much light. I feel blessed to have...

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[maria-olivia]

Too much pictures were taken , no privacy a all.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Have Princess Theodora and her husband been spotted?

 

[Stefan]

Have Princess Theodora and her husband been spotted?

Yes they were there. In the first row in the Church

 

[llj]

Have Princess Theodora and her husband been spotted?

Yes they were present. I saw pictures of Theodora at the burial and both Theodora and Matthew at the cathedral.

 

[nwroyalf]

It's great to see both princess Leonor & infanta Sofia interacting with their greek & Bourbon cousins and supporting the entire family in this rough time.

 

[llj]

Queen Sofia and Irene Urdangarin both looked overwhelmed with sadness. I'm sorry for the family's loss.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Saw some Twitter users claim the BRF was represented by Tim Laurence and Gabriella Kingston. I don't believe I saw either – or did I not look hard enough?

Disappointed by the lack of recognition from the DRF.

They didn't have to send someone to attend the funeral but Irene was a Danish princess by birth (the provenance of this title being far removed, sure – yet it's nothing the DRF themselves have done anything to rectify) and a Knight of the Order of the Elephant after all. That should warrant at least some type of memorial post.

 

[stef]

THE PHOTO of Queen Anne-Marie and Queen Sophia is sad but it also captures a very nice gesture where Queen Anna Maria comforts Queen Sofia.

https://scontent-mad2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/616238852_26159044773688126_5749539947614477371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=OuJn8ajzAewQ7kNvwHgPYQu&_nc_oc=AdmndenWGd0wh-AciXiNZKTnkLWfwnSireKKXQEF6S3a4gCsa_idWhL2IFqWO2acyDw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-mad2-1.xx&_nc_gid=bCl8CTQc40Mfl_TXCFqkpA&oh=00_AfqTRuWU_eqSo2L4egDXqcJO6zhbwRATp5uJFuPZTJFPsg&oe=69745796

The photo gallery on the official website has been expanded, or is being expanded, because every time I visit it I find a new photo or video.

Princess Irene Funeral Procession - Google Drive

drive.google.com

 

[Stefan]

THE PHOTO of Queen Anne-Marie and Queen Sophia is sad but it also captures a very nice gesture where Queen Anna Maria comforts Queen Sofia.

https://scontent-mad2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/616238852_26159044773688126_5749539947614477371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aa7b47&_nc_ohc=OuJn8ajzAewQ7kNvwHgPYQu&_nc_oc=AdmndenWGd0wh-AciXiNZKTnkLWfwnSireKKXQEF6S3a4gCsa_idWhL2IFqWO2acyDw&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-mad2-1.xx&_nc_gid=bCl8CTQc40Mfl_TXCFqkpA&oh=00_AfqTRuWU_eqSo2L4egDXqcJO6zhbwRATp5uJFuPZTJFPsg&oe=69745796

The photo gallery on the official website has been expanded, or is being expanded, because every time I visit it I find a new photo or video.

Princess Irene Funeral Procession - Google Drive

drive.google.com

There is also a Video from Tatoi and it must have been very cold and to that an horrible Wind blowing

 

[BriarRose]

Saw some Twitter users claim the BRF was represented by Tim Laurence and Gabriella Kingston. I don't believe I saw either – or did I not look hard enough?

Disappointed by the lack of recognition from the DRF.

They didn't have to send someone to attend the funeral but Irene was a Danish princess by birth (the provenance of this title being far removed, sure – yet it's nothing the DRF themselves have done anything to rectify) and a Knight of the Order of the Elephant after all. That should warrant at least some type of memorial post.

I wonder if it's because the working DRF is relatively small, and this funeral was scheduled quite rapidly in comparison to many royal funerals? The DRF is typically good about sending someone to these types of events. I don't think Queen Margrethe is up to traveling by herself anymore. I assume the King and Queen were already scheduled. Denmark is currently under a lot of stress.

 

[taogg]

It’s painful to see Queen Sofia. All of her younger siblings have passed away. I remember Barry Gibb saying in an emotional interview, “Now I’m the last man standing,” after all his younger brothers were gone. That kind of loneliness is hard to put into words.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

I wonder if it's because the working DRF is relatively small, and this funeral was scheduled quite rapidly in comparison to many royal funerals? The DRF is typically good about sending someone to these types of events. I don't think Queen Margrethe is up to traveling by herself anymore. I assume the King and Queen were already scheduled. Denmark is currently under a lot of stress.

While I think it would've been entirely appropriate for them to do, I didn't need them to physically send someone there to represent them – but I wish they would at minimum have paid tribute to her through a post on social media. As they took the exact same approach when Prince Michael passed, I doubt it has to do with the current political climate and/or being busy. But disappointing nonetheless!

 

[Curryong]

I think it’s quite disappointing that the BRF did not send one representative to Prss Irene’s funeral. Especially considering that King Charles had a long friendship with her brother King Constantine.

 

[crm2317]

PI260119_9350a.jpg

Princess Irene Funeral ProcessionTatoi Cemetery

drive.google.com

It would seem that Irene was especially close to Infanta Cristina’s children. You can see in photos how affected Pablo, Miguel and Irene are.

 

[tommy100]

Lovely to see how supported Sofia was at this very difficult time, especially so close to also losing her longtime friend and cousin and without her husband there for support. I've alway wondered how close Felipe, his wife and daughters are to his mother given the infamous incident at Easter mass but the last few days shows how close they are and how much Leanor and Sofia support and look out for their grandmother.

Surprised to see some family not attending but then they've only really had the weekend to get things sorted.

 

[Countessmeout]

The Danish royals may have instead of scrambling to try and arrange one to attend, just looked at the obvious one. While Anne-Marie is there of course as Irene's former sister in law, she is also a Princess of Denmark by birth and could easily be representing her sister and nephew.

Charles was close to Constantine because he and his family lived in the UK for years. We have no idea if he had any relationship with Irene. Mark with Anne, and Gabriella attended Constantine's funeral, perhaps leading to the unconfirmed suggestion they'd attend this one.

It was nice though to see all those who came out. You could see how dearly she was loved. I am glad Sofia had the support of her granddaughters through it.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I thought Princess Benedikte would attend… She has usually been the one taking care of these engagements, when the funeral is not for a King or a Queen…

Yes I was surprised too as Princess Benedikte has been a stalwart at Greek RF events over the years.
The Greek and Spanish RF were very well represented.

 

[zarat]

I think it’s quite disappointing that the BRF did not send one representative to Prss Irene’s funeral. Especially considering that King Charles had a long friendship with her brother King Constantine.

If I recall correctly king Charles didn't bother to attend the funeral of King Constantin. He neither appeared at the funeral of former Head of Princely House of Baden (although he's related to Baden family by his late father). And nobody from BRF attended the funeral of Queen Fabiola of Belgians. I wonder what could be the real reason of this....

 

[Minister of Court]

I doubt any foreign (reigning) royal families were invited. Only close family and friends. Princess Irene lived in the shadows most of her life and rarely attended any royal events, so she wouldn’t want her funeral to have been a great royal jamboree.

 

[Blog Real]

Photos of Princess Sofia at Princess Irene's funeral.

Funeraliile Principesei Irina a Greciei și Danemarcei - Casa Majestății Sale

Luni, 19 ianuarie 2026, Alteța Sa Regală Principesa Sofia a reprezentat pe Majestatea Sa Margareta Custodele Coroanei la funeraliile Principesei Irina a Greciei și Danemarcei. Slujba de înmormântare a avut loc la Catedrala Mitropolitană din Atena, unde au luat parte membrii Familiei Regale a...

casamajestatiisale.ro

 

[muriel]

I think it’s quite disappointing that the BRF did not send one representative to Prss Irene’s funeral. Especially considering that King Charles had a long friendship with her brother King Constantine.

I see now reason for the BRF to officially be represented at Irene's funeral. I have no doubt that the family would share their condolences with Queens Sophia and Anne-Marie respectively privately. We have no idea if Irene was close to any of them.

 

[Marengo]

They perhaps sent flowers? There were wreaths from the Norwegian, Monegasque and Dutch reigning couples pictured, though there were probably more of other royal houses [I would be very surprised in the Danish and Swedish court hadn't sent a wreath f.e.]. As is said, Pss Irene led a private life for the most part. King Charles III [and siblings and Kent-relatives] is her 2nd cousin. Many people will not even know their second cousins in this day and age, let alone attend their funerals.

BTW: in Madrid we saw Princess Cristina of the Two-Sicilies attend the memorial service. Did anybody see her mother Anne de France there too? They must have known each other well enough over the years. Though I am not sure if Princess Anne was ever close to Queen Sofia of course.

 

[Lipe]

After the burial, a luncheon, also a tradition, was held at the Hotel Grande Bretagna. The King and Queen of Spain and their daughters were not present because they had left Greece due to the train accident in Spain. Queen Sofia, her daughters and grandchildren, the Greek royal family, and other guests attended the luncheon.

The Greek Royal Family | 20-01-2026 | Facebook

20-01-2026 Το μεσημέρι της Δευτέρας 19/1, συγγενείς, φίλοι και πλήθος κόσμου είπαν το τελευταίο αντίο στην τέως Πριγκίπισσα Ειρήνη της Ελλάδας, που έφυγε από τη ζωή την περασμένη Πέμπτη, 15...

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https://cdn.gosmd.gr/img/1717/max/80/2026/01/20/img46324312.jpg?t=fGgWyxJnIXUOnJo3OssMkA

 

[Somebody]

I just noticed that prince Christian von Hannover was also present. I suppose he represented the Hannovers - as princess Irene's mother was of course a princess of Hanover. The princess was a first cousin of his father.

And is it Dr. Jean Henri Fruchaud, widower of princess Tatiana Radziwill, who is seated in the second row with the Greek royal family?

 

[Countessmeout]

I just noticed that prince Christian von Hannover was also present. I suppose he represented the Hannovers - as princess Irene's mother was of course a princess of Hanover. The princess was a first cousin of his father.

And is it Dr. Jean Henri Fruchaud, widower of princess Tatiana Radziwill, who is seated in the second row with the Greek royal family?

Yes, he was accompanied by his son Alexis.

Princess Irene's funeral

royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com

 

[LauraS3514]

Sir Tim Laurence and Lady Gabriella Kingston were present.

I think it’s quite disappointing that the BRF did not send one representative to Prss Irene’s funeral. Especially considering that King Charles had a long friendship with her brother King Constantine.

 

[Kinan]

Sir Tim Laurence and Lady Gabriella Kingston were present.

Were they? I watched the livestream, and searched on the photos galleries, but they were not there. They were not present

 

[Countessmeout]

Sir Tim Laurence and Lady Gabriella Kingston were present.

Has anyone seen any evidence they actually attended? There have been no photos or videos, no mention by any royal blogs or papers of them Actually attending. Nor did the BRF ever announce anyone going which they would have.

Tim may have been believable to be sent, though not sure he has ever gone alone to represent the family. But Gabriella? The reason she went to Constantine's was she was his goddaughter. It seems most likely the Greek paper that suggested they were going just took the idea from the previous funeral.