Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Irene |
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Princess Irene in 2018
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| Born | 11 May 1942 Cape Town, South Africa |
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| House | Glücksburg | ||||
| Father | Paul of Greece | ||||
| Mother | Frederica of Hanover | ||||
| Signature |  |
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Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark (born May 11, 1942) is a member of the Greek royal family. She is the youngest child of King Paul and Queen Frederica.
Princess Irene is the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and King Constantine II, the last king of Greece. She is also a great-granddaughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, who was a grandson of the famous Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
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Early Life and Royal Family
Princess Irene was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 11, 1942. At the time, her family was living in exile, which means they had to live outside of their home country. She was baptized in her family's home in Claremont, a suburb of Cape Town.
She had many important godparents, including General Jan Smuts, who was a leader in South Africa, and several royal relatives like King George II of Greece and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom.
A Talented Pianist
Growing up, Irene became a very skilled pianist. She was taught by the famous concert pianist Gina Bachauer. For a time, Princess Irene even performed as a professional concert pianist herself.
When her father, King Paul, passed away, Irene was given the title of "Crown Princess of Greece." This title is usually for the person next in line to the throne. She held this title until her brother, King Constantine II, had his first child.
Life After the Monarchy
In the 1970s, the monarchy in Greece was ended, and her brother was dethroned. After this major change, Princess Irene moved to India with her mother, Queen Frederica.
After her mother died in 1981, Irene moved to Spain. She lives in an apartment at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. This is the same place where her sister, Queen Sofía, and her brother-in-law, King Juan Carlos I, live.
In 2018, Princess Irene officially became a citizen of Spain.
Charity Work
In 1986, Princess Irene founded an organization called World in Harmony (Mundo en Armonía in Spanish). She served as its president for many years, until 2023. The organization worked to promote peace and understanding between people.
Published Work
Princess Irene is also an author. She wrote a book about her work on an archaeological project.
- En Decelia: fragmentos cerámicos de Decelia y miscelánea arqueológica (which means In Decelea: ceramic fragments of Decelea and various archaeological findings). It was first published in Athens and later released in Spanish in 2013.
Royal Honours
Throughout her life, Princess Irene has received several honours from different countries, recognizing her royal status and contributions.
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Thailand: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao
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See also
In Spanish: Irene de Grecia para niños
