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 | ||||
Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark R.E. (Greek: Ειρήνη; born May 11, 1942) is a princess from Greece. She is the youngest child and second daughter of King Paul of the Hellenes and Queen Frederica.
Princess Irene is the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain. She is also the sister of King Constantine II of the Hellenes. Her great-grandfather was Wilhelm II, German Emperor. He was the first grandson of Queen Victoria.
Contents
Her Early Life and Family
Irene was born in Cape Town, South Africa. Her parents were living there because they were in exile. This means they had to leave their home country. She was born on May 11, 1942.
She was christened at her parents' home in Claremont. Many important people were her godparents. These included General Jan Smuts and Queen Mary of the United Kingdom. Her aunt, Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, was also a godparent.
Her Musical Talent
Princess Irene studied music with a famous concert pianist named Gina Bachauer. For some time, Irene was also a professional concert pianist herself. This means she played concerts for audiences.
Life as a Princess
After her father passed away, Irene held the title of "Crown Princess of Greece." She had this title until her brother had his first child.
Later, her brother was no longer king. After this, Irene moved to India with her mother.
Since her mother's death in 1981, Princess Irene has lived in Spain. She lives in an apartment at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. This is the home of her sister, Queen Sofía, and her brother-in-law, King Juan Carlos.
Her Work and Nationality
From 1986 to 2023, Irene was the founder and president of an organization. It was called World in Harmony (Mundo en Armonía). This group worked to bring people together.
On March 16, 2018, Princess Irene became a Spanish citizen. At the same time, she gave up her Greek nationality.
Her Published Work
Princess Irene has also published a book. It is about ancient pottery pieces found in Greece. The book is called En Decelia: fragmentos cerámicos de Decelia y miscelánea arqueológica. It was first published in Athens in 1959–1960. A Spanish version was released in Spain in 2013.
Awards and Honours
Princess Irene has received several special awards and honours. These are given to people who have done important things.
Denmark: She is a Knight of the Order of the Elephant. This is a very high honour in Denmark.
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: She is a Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Italy: She is a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
Thailand: She is a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao.
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See also
In Spanish: Irene de Grecia para niños
