Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pavlos |
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| Crown Prince of Greece | |
Pavlos at his father's funeral in 2023
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| Head of the Royal House of Greece | |
| Tenure | 10 January 2023 – present |
| Predecessor | Constantine II |
| Heir apparent | Constantine-Alexios |
| Born | 20 May 1967 Tatoi Palace, Athens, Kingdom of Greece |
| Spouse |
Marie-Chantal Miller
(m. 1995) |
| Issue |
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| House | Glücksburg |
| Father | Constantine II of Greece |
| Mother | Anne-Marie of Denmark |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox |
Pavlos (born 20 May 1967) used to be the Crown Prince of Greece. He is the oldest son of the last King of Greece, Constantine II, and Queen Anne-Marie. His father was king from 1964 until 1973. That's when Greece stopped being a monarchy. Pavlos was the crown prince (the next in line for the throne) from when he was born until the monarchy ended.
After his father, Constantine II, passed away on January 10, 2023, Pavlos became the head of the former Greek royal family. He is also a Danish prince because his family comes from the Danish royal line. His aunts are Queens Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Sofía of Spain. Kings Felipe VI of Spain and Frederik X of Denmark are his first cousins.
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Growing Up in Greece
Pavlos was born on May 20, 1967, at the Tatoi Palace near Athens. This palace was a second home for the Greek royal family. He was the second child and first son of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
King Constantine II became king in 1964 after his father, King Paul, died. In Greece, it's a tradition to name the first son after his grandfather. Pavlos's mother, Anne-Marie, is the younger sister of the Danish queen Margrethe II. His father, Constantine, was the brother of Sofía, who used to be the queen of Spain.
Pavlos became the next in line for the throne instead of his older sister, Princess Alexia. This was because Greece followed a rule called "male-preference primogeniture." This rule meant that sons would inherit the throne before their older sisters.
Life as Crown Prince
Pavlos was born during a difficult time in Greek politics. Just a month before he was born, a group of military officers took control of the country. This event, called a coup d'état, ended democratic rule in Greece. It led to a military government known as the military junta.
In December 1967, King Constantine tried to take back control, but his plan failed. He and his family, including baby Pavlos, had to leave Greece. They first went to Rome and then to Copenhagen, Denmark. They lived with Pavlos's grandmother, Queen Ingrid. Even though the king was in exile, Greece officially remained a monarchy until 1973.
In 1973, the military government declared Greece a presidential republic. This meant Greece would no longer have a king. A vote was held, and the people confirmed this change. In 1974, after the military government fell, another vote was held. This time, most people (69%) voted to keep Greece a republic, while a smaller group (31%) wanted the monarchy back.
King Constantine said he "respected" the decision of the Greek people. He and Anne-Marie had been living in London for several years. Pavlos's younger siblings, Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos, were born in London.
Pavlos went to school at the Hellenic College of London, which his parents started in 1980. He also studied in the U.S. at the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West. After that, he trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the British Army. He became a second lieutenant in 1987 and served for three years. In 1993, he earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University.
In 1994, the Greek government took away the Greek citizenship of Pavlos and his family. They said the family could get it back only if they chose a last name. The next year, Pavlos and his cousin, Felipe VI of Spain (who is now King of Spain), both studied at Georgetown University. They both earned a master's degree in Foreign Service. After his studies, Pavlos worked as an investment consultant in New York City and London. He also helped start a company called Ortelius Advisors.
Leading the Greek Royal Family
After his father, King Constantine, passed away on January 10, 2023, Pavlos became the head of the former Royal House of Greece. He gave a speech at his father's funeral and helped carry the coffin with his brothers, sons, and nephews.
There were rumors that Pavlos would move back to Greece permanently, but a family spokesperson said this was not true. However, in an interview in January, Pavlos thanked people for their respect for the Greek royal family. He said that people at the funeral, whether they supported the monarchy or not, were "paying tribute to a historical personality, a part of Greek history."
Pavlos explained that he would "not take on an official role" in Greek society. Instead, he would "uphold the family's exemplary." He also said his oldest son, Prince Constantine-Alexios, would not have an official role either. He would "follow his grandfather's example and be a good man."
Pavlos made his first public statement as head of the family after a terrible train crash in Greece in February 2023. He said that "all of Greece is mourning" and sent his thoughts and prayers to the families who lost loved ones. He also thanked the rescue and medical teams for their "superhuman efforts."
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In April 2023, Pavlos attended a Greek Orthodox Easter service in the Hamptons, where his sons helped with the service. In May, Pavlos, his mother, and his wife attended the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in London.
In July 2023, Pavlos and his brother, Nikolaos, appeared on a Greek TV show. This was their first interview since their father's death. They talked about their father, losing their Greek citizenship, and their family name. Pavlos described his father as "strict but very loving." He also announced that he was now living in Greece again, which he "always wanted to." He said his job allowed him to work from overseas.
When asked about the last name "Glücksburg," Pavlos said he would never see it as his name. He called it "a family lineage" and explained that he always introduced himself as "Pavlos of Greece." He also said he was "very interested in [Greek] politics" but would never get involved. He still hoped to get his Greek passport back.
Pavlos and Marie-Chantal went to the 2023 British Fashion Awards. Pavlos was seen with an eye patch. His wife later posted online that he had surgery for a retinal detachment. He said the surgery was "successful" but he had to stay in London for Christmas.
In early 2024, Pavlos and his family attended three memorial services for his father's one-year anniversary. These were held in Athens and London. Pavlos and Nikolaos thanked the public for their support. In September 2024, Pavlos was a groomsman at his sister Theodora's wedding in Athens.
On December 19, 2024, Pavlos, his five children, and his four siblings applied to get their Greek citizenship back. His mother, Anne-Marie, did not apply. To get citizenship, they had to promise loyalty to the Greek constitution and choose a last name. They chose "Ντε Γκρες" (De Grèce), which means "of Greece." The next day, their citizenship was given back to them. This means that those who are eligible might have to complete military service.
Family Life
Pavlos married Marie-Chantal Miller, an American heiress, on July 1, 1995. They had met three years earlier. Their Greek Orthodox wedding in London was a big event with many royal guests. Because of a law in England, they also had to have a civil wedding ceremony.
After they married, Pavlos and Marie-Chantal lived in Greenwich, Connecticut, in the U.S. Pavlos worked for a shipping company there. Later, he worked as an investment manager in New York City. In 2004, they moved to London for their children's schooling.
Pavlos and Marie-Chantal have five children:
- Princess Maria-Olympia (born 1996)
- Prince Constantine-Alexios (born 1998)
- Prince Achileas-Andreas (born 2000)
- Prince Odysseas-Kimon (born 2004)
- Prince Aristidis-Stavros (born 2008)
Pavlos enjoys sailing and is part of the crew on a large yacht called Mari-Cha IV. This yacht is owned by his father-in-law, Robert W. Miller.
Titles and Awards
From birth, Pavlos was the next in line to the Greek throne. He was called the Crown Prince of Greece and addressed as Royal Highness. However, after the Greek monarchy ended in 1973, these titles are no longer officially recognized by the Greek government.
Because his family comes from Christian IX of Denmark, he is also a Prince of Denmark. He is addressed as Highness.
Royal Family Awards
Greek royal family:
Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Redeemer
Grand Master of the Royal Family Order of Saints George and Constantine
Grand Master of the Royal Order of George I
Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Phoenix
Awards from Other Countries
Denmark:
Knight of the Order of the Elephant (January 14, 1997).
Recipient of the Commemorative Medal for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Margrethe II.
See also
In Spanish: Pablo de Grecia para niños
