Cousin of Charles III and godfather of Crown Prince William, brother of former Queen Sofia of Spain, he did not recognize referendums against the monarchy
The former King of Greece, Constantine II, who was in power before the restoration of the Republic in 1974, has died in Athens at the age of 82, world agencies reported, citing Greek media.
The former sovereign, who is a cousin of Britain’s King Charles III and the godfather of Crown Prince William, died of a stroke, Greek television ERT reported.
He was hospitalized in Athens last week for a stroke and respiratory problems, Greek media reported. For seven days, he was in the intensive care unit of the capital’s “Igia” clinic, where he was brought in critical condition, according to the “Newsbomb” website.
In the hospital with him were members of his family, his wife Anna-Maria, his children and his sister, the former Queen Sofia of Spain.
Recently, the former monarch had a number of health problems. He has had strokes in the past and was diagnosed with pneumonia and pulmonary edema in December 2021. Then he was again treated at Igia Hospital. Then the monarch was also hospitalized because of Covid-19. In addition, the former king had mobility problems and was in a wheelchair recently.
Konstantinos II was born on June 2, 1940. in Athens. He was King of Greece from 1964 to 1974. He is a descendant of the Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg dynasty, the son of King Pavlos I and Fredericka of Hanover. As a descendant of the Danish King Christian IX, he also bore the title of Prince of Denmark.
After the junta of the black colonels came to power in Greece, Constantine II tried to oppose it and called the people to revolt. But he did not receive support and was forced to leave the country and live in Rome. In 1973, after a referendum, the monarchy in Greece was liquidated by the junta and the country became a republic. After the end of the military dictatorship, the democratic government of Konstantinos Karamanlis held a second referendum in 1974, which confirmed the will of the people not to have a monarchy. Constantine II never recognized these referendums and never formally abdicated.
Until 2013, the former king lived with his family in London. In May 2013, the family moved permanently to Greece, to the settlement of Porto Heli, in the municipality of Ermionida, 6 kilometers from the island of Spetses. Due to serious health problems, however, in recent months the former monarch lived in Athens not far from the hospital where he was being treated.
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