Prince Nikolaos, the son of Greece’s late king Constantine, and his wife Tatiana Blatnik have announced their decision to divorce after fourteen years of marriage.
Together for twenty years, the couple decided to part ways, closing a chapter that kicked off with a storybook wedding, drawing scores of international royalty on the tiny island of Spets in 2010.
Known for his morning jobs and running of the former royal estates at Tatoi, north of Athens, Nikolaos devoted much of his time to his passion for photography, holding exhibitions in Greece and abroad. He also contributed to philanthropy as a Special Advisor to the Board of Axion Hellas, supporting vulnerable groups in remote island regions of Greece.
Tatiana Blatnik worked with charitable organisations like Elpida Youth and founded the mental health platform Breathe Hellas. Despite their shared commitment to social service, the couple often had separate schedules, with Tatiana travelling alone to international events.
For those close to the couple, the royal breakup has come as no surprise. The couple’s public appearances had dwindled in recent years.
Born in Caracas to a Slovenian businessman and a German mother from an aristocratic family, Tatiana Blatnik met Prince Nikolaos in 2003 in Gstaad. Their engagement was announced in 2009 by the former royal family. They announced their separation as they neared their 14th wedding anniversary.
Brain Drain Challenge Persists as BRFAA’s Scientific Director Resigns
Greece’s ambition to stem brain drain has suffered a serious setback with the resignation of Nikos Kyrpides, the scientific director of the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA).
Mr. Kyrpides, an internationally acclaimed biologist, cited a lack of interest in foundational reorganisation as the primary reason for his departure.
Mr. Kyrpides, who previously led a prominent research program at the Joint Genome Institute in California, was appointed as BRFAA’s scientific director in 2020. His resignation, just nine months after taking office, raises questions about Greece’s commitment to reversing the country’s brain drain, fostering instead a brain gain.
The biologist’s return to Greece was initially celebrated as a success for the country’s initiative to win back scientific talent. But Mr. Kyrpides’ stint at BRFAA was marred by resistance to change.
“I was saddened to realize that instead of finding a warm welcome, I was met with intense suspicion and, several times, an aggressive mood,” Kyrpides said in a recent interview.
The incident has prompted a broader discussion on the need for systemic reforms to ensure that Greece can attract and retain top scientific talent.