Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Irene |
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Irene in 1966
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| Born | 11 May 1942 Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa |
| Died | 15 January 2026 (aged 83) Palace of Zarzuela, Madrid, Spain |
| House | Glücksburg |
| Father | Paul of Greece |
| Mother | Frederica of Hanover |
| Signature |  |
Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark was a member of the Greek royal family. She was born on May 11, 1942, and passed away on January 15, 2026. Irene was the youngest daughter of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece. Her older siblings were Queen Sofía of Spain and the late King Constantine II of Greece. She was also a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, who was the first grandson of Queen Victoria.
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Her Early Years
Princess Irene was born on May 11, 1942, in Cape Town, South Africa. At that time, her parents, Prince Paul and Princess Frederica, were living away from Greece. Three weeks after her birth, she had a special christening ceremony at her family's home. She had many godparents, including important figures like General Jan Smuts and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom.
In 1946, her family returned to Greece. The next year, her father became King Paul of Greece. Irene later went to school in Germany at Schule Schloss Salem.
A Talented Musician
Princess Irene loved music and started playing the piano in 1962. She learned from a famous concert pianist named Gina Bachauer. Irene became a professional concert pianist herself. In 1967, she toured the United States with her teacher. She also performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in London in 1969.
Her Personal Life
For a short time, after her father passed away and before her niece Princess Alexia was born, Irene was next in line to the Greek throne. Princess Irene never married.
Life in Exile
After her brother was no longer king, Princess Irene moved to India with her mother. There, they both explored Hindu philosophy. Irene studied philosophy at the University of Madras. Later, she helped her teacher, T. M. P. Mahadevan, write his life story.
After her mother passed away in 1981, Irene moved to Spain. She lived in an apartment at the Palace of Zarzuela in Madrid. This palace was the home of her sister, Queen Sofía, and her brother-in-law, King Juan Carlos I.
Helping Others
Princess Irene was very kind and dedicated to helping others. In the 1980s, she helped send many cows from Europe and the United States to India. This saved the cows from being slaughtered. She also started and led an organization called World in Harmony (Mundo en Armonía) from 1986 to 2023.
In 2002, she received money for her family's property in Greece. She generously gave all of this money to different charities. On March 16, 2018, Princess Irene became a Spanish citizen. She gave up her Greek citizenship at that time.
Later Life and Legacy
Princess Irene's last public event was the wedding of her nephew, Prince Nikolaos, in February 2025. In January 2026, her health became very poor. Her sister, Queen Sofía, stopped all her public duties to be with her. Princess Irene passed away on January 15, 2026, at 11:40 AM in the Palace of Zarzuela in Madrid, Spain. She was 83 years old. She will be laid to rest with her parents and brother at the Royal Burial Ground in Tatoi.
Books She Wrote
Princess Irene also wrote a book:
- En Decelia: fragmentos cerámicos de Decelia y miscelánea arqueológica. This book was about ancient pottery and archaeological findings. It was first published in Athens between 1959 and 1960. A Spanish version was released in Spain in 2013. ISBN: 9788494103308
Titles and Awards
Throughout her life, Princess Irene held several titles and received important awards:
Her Titles
- 11 May 1942 - 6 March 1964: Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark
- 6 March 1964 - 10 July 1965: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Greece, Princess of Denmark
- 10 July 1965 - 15 January 2026: Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark
Special Honours
- From Greece: She was a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Family Order of Saints Olga and Sophia.
- From Denmark: She was a Knight of the Order of the Elephant.
- From Italy: She received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
- From Thailand: She was a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao.
See also
In Spanish: Irene de Grecia para niños
