Constantine II of Greece
Who was Constantine II of Greece?
Last King of Greece who reigned from 1964 until the monarchy was abolished in 1973.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Constantine II of Greece (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Constantine II of Greece was born in Athens on 2 June 1940 to Crown Prince Paul and Crown Princess Frederica. Part of the Danish royal family, he was also titled Prince of Denmark from birth. His early years were disrupted by World War II, as his family went into exile, living in Egypt and South Africa before returning to Greece in 1946 during the Greek Civil War. After his uncle King George II died in 1947, Constantine's father Paul became king, making Constantine the crown prince.
Constantine was well-educated, attending Anavryta Classical Lyceum, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the University of Cambridge, Victoria College, and NATO School Oberammergau. He was also an accomplished sailor, winning a gold medal in the Dragon class sailing competition at the 1960 Rome Olympics with Odysseus Eskitzoglou and George Zaimis on the yacht Nireus. In 1964, he joined the International Olympic Committee.
He became king on 6 March 1964 after his father's death, the youngest king of Greece at age 23. Later that year, he married Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, and they had five children. Although his reign started with hope, Greece soon faced political turmoil. The political instability led to a military coup on 21 April 1967 by a group of army colonels. Without loyal military support, Constantine reluctantly agreed to cooperate with the junta, insisting that civilian ministers mostly fill the government.
Tensions between the king and the military regime worsened when Constantine attempted a counter-coup on 13 December 1967. The failure forced him and his family to flee Greece, starting a long exile. Although absent, he remained Greece's official head of state until the junta abolished the monarchy on 1 June 1973. A disputed referendum in July 1973 seemed to uphold the end of the monarchy. After the military dictatorship fell, a new referendum in December 1974 officially rejected restoring the monarchy. Constantine spent his remaining years in exile, mainly in London, until he passed away in Athens on 10 January 2023.
Before Fame
Constantine's rise to the throne was shaped by the upheaval in 20th-century Greece and the displacement of European royals during World War II. Born into the Greek royal family during the German occupation of Greece, his early life was marked by exile and uncertainty as his family sought safety in Egypt and South Africa. Living through displacement and witnessing the Greek Civil War after their return in 1946 gave Constantine a firsthand understanding of political instability and conflict.
His education took place in several countries and institutions, reflecting both the international aspect of European royalty and the practical need to prepare for kingship in modern times. He developed a talent for sailing in his youth, eventually competing in the Olympics and achieving one of his most celebrated personal accomplishments. The sudden death of his father, King Paul, in 1964 placed the 23-year-old Constantine on the throne during one of Greece's most tumultuous political eras.
Key Achievements
- Won Olympic gold medal in sailing at 1960 Rome Olympics in Dragon class
- Served as the last King of Greece from 1964 to 1973
- Served on the International Olympic Committee from 1964
- Attempted to resist the 1967 military coup through constitutional means and later counter-coup
- Received numerous international honors including Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and Order of the Elephant
Did You Know?
- 01.He won an Olympic gold medal in sailing at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the Dragon class aboard the yacht Nireus
- 02.Constantine was the youngest reigning monarch in Europe when he ascended to the throne at age 23 in 1964
- 03.He held dual nationality as both King of Greece and Prince of Denmark due to his Danish royal lineage
- 04.His failed counter-coup attempt against the military junta lasted only one day before he was forced to flee to Rome
- 05.Constantine lived in exile for nearly 50 years, primarily in London, before returning to Greece shortly before his death
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav | 1964 | — |
| Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | — | — |
| Knight of the Order of the Elephant | 1962 | — |
| Order of the Redeemer | — | — |
| Order of Saints George and Constantine | — | — |
| Order of the Phoenix | — | — |
| Order of the Golden Fleece | — | — |
| Order of St. Olav | — | — |
| Order of George I | — | — |
| Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog | 1964 | — |
| Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau | — | — |
| Royal Order of the Seraphim | — | — |
| anniversary medal at the occasion of the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Iranian Empire | — | — |
| Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation | — | — |
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus | — | — |
| Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy | — | — |
| Medal of Military Merit | — | — |
| Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour | — | — |
| Supreme Order of the Renaissance | — | — |
| Legion of Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Liberator General San Martín | — | — |
| Order of the Aztec Eagle | — | — |
| Order of the Nile | — | — |
| National Order of the Lion of Senegal | — | — |
| Order of Leopold II | — | — |
| Order of Saint-Charles | — | — |
| Order of the Royal House of Chakri | — | — |
| Order of Idris I | — | — |
| Order of Propitious Clouds | — | — |
| Prince Henriks 75th Birthday Medal | — | — |
| Medal of Merit | — | — |
| Order of the Sun of Peru | — | — |
| Order of Saint Anna, 1st class | — | — |