My thoughts too…. This sounds more like it will be a last act of humiliation for a man the greek state have never missed a chance to ridicule….
A pity when it could have been a respectful demonstration of a not so small part of the greek history. Like it was done in Romania when King Michael died and in Austria when Crown Prince Otto died…… What are the greek government so afraid of after all these years ? ��
Well, if the Prince of Wales, godson of the late King, would not attend, that would be a great disappointment to the greek royal family as both Williams grandparents and parents have always been very close to the Ex-King and Queen!But Heads of State could also attend in private. At the funeral of Queen Frederike in 1981 there a few Head of States and high ranking royals attended.
A disgrace,ignoring a significant part of the Greek history,and opening up to hysteria as they are afraid to annoy Syriza,what heroes....Not!
Send their minister of culture??Instead of what,a clerk...Good,let her take a bucket and some brushes and clean up the Tatoi cemetery first!!
Proud of their history...my foot...Ignoring it!
I'd be surprised if King Charles does not attend. If not, I wouldn't be surprised if the British royal family was represented by William, Anne, and at least one of the Kents.
I wonder if former Crown Prince Pavlos and his heir will step up their roles in the Royal House of Greece, or if the monarchist cause, which was already hopeless in Greece, will simply fade now.
About attending royalty and other VIPs:About the funeral the decision of the government :
- All the procedures provided by the Protocol for the officials from abroad who will attend the funeral will be observed."
King Juan Carlos will attend the funeral of King Constantine, according to the Spanish press.
So far it is not known whether Felipe and Letizia will be present, but it will depend on the date of the funeral.
https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencia...ia-felipe-letizia-constantino-grecia_3555509/
I doubt Felipe and Letizia will attend the funeral. Juan Carlos and obviously Sofia can do so on a private capacity.
William or Anne may go…
The Greek government is weak and unstable which is why they don't want to draw attention to the King and the monarchy that they got rid of ... frankly, the monarchy may have provided a degree of stability that Greece hasn't seen in decades.
Rightly or wrongly, many Greeks seem to hold King Constantine responsible for his half-hearted approach after the coup by the military junta and the chaos after his - again- half-hearted counter coup against them.
We may find the Greek attitude "petty" but most likely the Greeks found the six years under the military junta not "petty" at all. While the former royal family stayed abroad, the Greeks had to live under a military dictatorship.
We, foreigners, may find the Greeks sort of insulting the late King, but let us not forget all what has passed and the discutable role of the King and especially his mother Queen Frederika.
The King seems unknown in Greece 50 years later . His Reign lasted 3 years.He was totally inprepared and Queen Frederica alas as Mother.
I wonder what is written in the history books of the schools ?
To me the funeral will be private and as the President of Greece wil not be there , only private royal Families and representants of the Reigning Family.
What did Pavlos and Marie Chantal do for Greece? Nothing but only spending luxuious holidays. Lucien , for most of the Greeks Greece in a Republic since 50 years
Was the deceased King not a godfather of Prince William?
Felipe is a nephew so if he wants he can be there and Letizia can accompany him.
"If the Diocese of Athens is chosen by the royal family, there will be no public procession". I couldn't possibly hate politicians more, not even after the King has passed they stop insulting him and his family. Those politicians wish they were half as good a Greek as Konstantinos was.
As already mentioned, Juan Carlos will be present.
Edited: just confirmed that Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina will attend the funeral, which will probably take place on Monday. I'm going to be mildly upset if Felipe doesn't attend just to not bother The Wife™
He should be there as a nephew.
The funeral has to be private because in this case the family has to pay for it. The Greek Government would shoot themselves in the foot if they forked out the money to accommodate a very rich family so no surprise here.
Not even for a Former Head of State? (all former Presidents of Ireland are afforded a State Funeral)