Ten members of Greece’s former royal family have applied for Greek citizenship, marking a symbolic step toward reconnecting with their ancestral homeland.
The applicants include the five children of the late King Constantine—Pavlos, Alexia, Nikolaos, Philippos, and Theodora—and Pavlos’ five children: Maria-Olympia, Konstantinos, Achilleas, Odysseas, and Aristidis.
As part of the application, they formally acknowledged Greece’s republican constitution, a legal requirement since the monarchy’s abolition in the 1970s.
The family has chosen the surname “De Grece,” meaning “of Greece,” for official use, in a nod to their heritage while distancing from the previously suggested “Glücksburg,” which they rejected.
The loss of their citizenship dates back to 1974, following a public referendum that affirmed Greece’s transition to a republic.
Efforts to reclaim it had stalled for decades due to legal and political barriers. King Constantine had contested the requirement to adopt a surname, arguing he never had one, but appeals to the European Commission of Human Rights were ultimately dismissed.
For decades, the family traveled internationally using Danish diplomatic passports, reflecting their lineage to Denmark’s royal family.
The application highlights their enduring connection to Greece and underscores ongoing discussions about their historical and cultural legacy.