Family Portrait, Greece

My grandfather, George I, shared a profound bond with his sister Alexandra, who became Queen of England upon marrying Edward VII. They wrote to each other at least once a week, and Queen Alexandra made frequent visits to Athens. Pictured are the brother and sister during an intimate walk in the gardens of the Royal Palace.

 

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King Edward VII of England didn’t always accompany his wife when she visited her brother George I of Greece. One time, however, he wanted to travel with her. I believe it was for the inauguration of the new stadium of Athens. Edward VII was a big eater, and would stay at the table for hours, as illustrated by this photograph, taken in the dining room of the Royal Palace, which is today the Parliament building.

 

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George I received his sister, the Queen of England, and other British royals in the enormous Royal Palace of Athens. The whole family disliked it there, preferring instead the home they had created in Tatoï, where we lived together until 1967. It was more welcoming, if less comfortable. Pictured above is tea time on the terrace of this grand villa.

 

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Queen Olga of Greece decided to Hellenize the dress of the Court. She created for herself, her daughters and granddaughters, as well as other ladies of honor, an extremely elegant style of dress, vaguely inspired by the Hellenic tradition. From left to right, Princess Marie of Greece, Grand Duchess George, Queen Olga of Greece, Princess Alice of Battenberg, Princess André of Greece, on the Balcony of the old Royal Palace.

 

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Prince George was the second son of King George I and Queen Olga, who was a sort of governor in Crete when the island passed from the Ottoman Empire to Greece. He unexpectedly married Princess Marie Bonaparte, the great-granddaughter of Lucien, the brother of Napoleon. A renowned psychiatrist, she was one of the founders of this science and a close friend of Freud. Pictured are the married couple on the balcony of the Royal Palace waving to the crowd.

 

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A crowd of Athenians gathered in Constitution Square to welcome the newlyweds, Uncle George and Aunt Marie Bonaparte. Today, the square is the site of daily protests and antigovernment demonstrations, against whichever government happens to be in power.


by  Prince Michael of Greece