Greek Royals

[Angel]

I think in the Royal Rule Book, a deposed King can only refer to himself as King because he was once actually a King. Pavlos was never King and therefore, even though he is Crown Prince, he can never style himself King even after the death of his father. If by some freaked out chance Greece reestablishes a monarchy, then Pavlos could refer to himself as King only AFTER his coronation. God, I hope that NEVER happens as I couldn't bear to see MC as an actual Queen.

[Angie]

I agree. I guess Pavlos could try to declare himself King of the Hellenes, but I doubt that would work. I don't think anyone has to worry about there ever being a King Pavlos and Queen Marie Chantal - I can't see the monarchy ever going back to that country.

I find it interesting that they're still giving out Prince/Princess titles - since Greece has outlawed royal titles, how can Phillipos, Theodora, Maria Olympia, Constantine, Achilles, and Odyseuss carry those titles? (as they were born after the king was deposed).

[violante]

It seems as if those deposed royalties go on forever carrying these titles.
(Why princess Olga of Greece, princess Elisabeth of Yugoslavia, prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoya and his little daughter Princess Vittoria). Once a prince, always a prince.

[Oxynia]

If MC ever becomes Queen of the Hellenes, I will hand in my Greek citizenship. The thought makes my flesh crawl.

As for learning to speak the language, if you are serious about serving your subjects (which is what royalty is intended to do, no?), then would you not want to communicate with them in their own language? It's bad enough that not one of the Glucksburgs has a drop of Greek blood, but to not take the time to learn the language as a sign of deference and respect for their adopted homeland is appalling. They should go back to Germany/Denmark/wherever they came from.

[celebritychef]

My grandad is old friends with Constantine - absolutely adores the man - and even he can't stand MC, which warms my heart.

When I got in to university a couple of years ago gramps wrote to Constantine and I got a two-page letter back, full of congratulations and the importance of education and you've done your're family proud and whatnot. It was nice, but I was torn. This internal struggle of "cool!" versus "deposed!" and "anti-monarchy!", which still rages as gramps keeps Constantine up-do-date with my progress and gives me the Kings advice. Celebrity Therapist decided that I'm a total slut for meaningless but nifty-sounding contacts.

[violante]

Wonder why Constantin doesn´t like her... He must at least be satisfied with the heaps of money she has brought to the family (which they seem to need) and he enjoys to stay in the Miller chalet in Gstaad every year .Has it something to do with her uninterest in learning greek?

[celebritychef]

Partly. It doesn't exactly show respect (I mean really: if you're going to style yourself HRH, learn the freakin' language). Gramps doesn't like her but his respect for royalty (deserved or not), and in particular his loyalty to Constantine, keeps him from saying too much about it.

[Mouse]

I'm curious: why are the Greek (ex) royals so deeply disliked in Greece? Is it just because they are not ethnically Greek or are there other factors at work?

Personally, I kinda like Queen Sofia of Spain. She seems to have class and dignity.

[Oxynia]

Mouse, there are lots of reasons why Greeks have no use for Constantine and his family.

The monarchy was never stable, was a political decision not borne of the people, lasted only about 130 years (in a country that's older than dirt), and was made up entirely of non-Greeks.

If you knew about the current political climate in Greece, where socialism (both with a Big and small s) is an entrenched ideology, you would see the inevitability of abolishing the monarchy and forming a republic. You would also see how there isn't a chance in hell that this situation will one day be reversed.

Especially when Constantine is the royal in question - he insists he has a divine right to the throne which is laughable considering that Greece existed for thousands of years before any of us ever heard of a Glucksburg.

[queen2]

Violante said:

Wonder why Constantin doesn´t like her... He must at least be satisfied with the heaps of money she has brought to the family (which they seem to need) and he enjoys to stay in the Miller chalet in Gstaad every year .Has it something to do with her uninterest in learning greek?

Is this really about Conatantine and MC...? or is it wishful thinking... I read in one of the other boards that Pavlos and MC are not happy... what a shame ... they have 4 beautiful kids... I hope it all works out...

Q2