A beloved princess with connections to multiple Royal Families passed away at the age of 83, as confirmed by a statement from the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, sister to former Queen of Spain Sofia, died today following a period of illness.
The official announcement from the Greek Royal Family expressed deep sorrow over the passing of HRH Princess Irene, who died in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by her loved ones. Princess Irene, who never married and resided close to her sister in Spain, was known for her close bond with Queen Sofia.
Having cancelled her scheduled engagements earlier this week due to her sister’s deteriorating health, Queen Sofia described Irene as fragile. The siblings were daughters of the late King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece, with their brother being the former King Constantine of Greece, who passed away in 2023.
Princess Irene was last seen publicly about a year ago at the wedding of her nephew, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, and Chrysi Vardinogiánni in Athens. Despite attending the event in a wheelchair, Irene had previously been pictured with her nephew, the current King Felipe of Spain, and his family.
The late King Constantine of Greece, Irene’s brother, had strong ties with the British royals, being a close friend of King Charles and serving as Prince William’s godfather. A memorial service was held in Windsor for King Constantine in February 2024, with Princess Anne representing King Charles due to prior commitments.
King Constantine, who ascended to the throne at a young age, faced political challenges that led to his exile and the abolishment of the monarchy in Greece. Despite hopes of returning to power being dashed, Constantine lived in exile in London before eventually returning to Greece in 2013.