The royal families of Spain and Greece have been plunged into mourning following the death of Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark.
The princess, who was the younger sister of Queen Sofia of Spain, died on January 15. She was 83.
Her death was announced on the Greek Royal Family’s official website.
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Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark has died. (greekroyalfamily)
“It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11.40am local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones,” the statement said.
Princess Irene was the daughter of King Pavlos and Queen Frederica.
Her older sister, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, became the Queen of Spain through her marriage to King Juan Carlos of Spain, who abdicated in 2014.
Her brother, Constantine II, was the last king of Greece before the Greek monarchy was abolished in 1973.
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Princess Irene with her parents and siblings. (greekroyalfamily)
Her father, King Paul, was the first cousin of Prince Philip, who was born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark on the Greek island of Corfu.
He became the Duke of Edinburgh on his marriage to then Princess Elizabeth, and was her consort after she acceded the throne as Queen Elizabeth II.
Princess Irene was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 11, 1942, while the royal Family was in exile due to the Nazi occupation of Greece.
She returned to Greece with her family in 1946.
Her father became King when she was five.
Princess Irene of Greece, right, with her sister, Queen Sofia of Spain. (Getty)
From a young age, she and her brother and sister took part in the social work of King Pavlos and Queen Frederica.
They traveled across the country, engaging with people facing hardships, which influenced her later philanthropy.
Following her father’s death in 1964, she briefly became next in line to the Greek throne until her brother’s daughter Princess Alexia was born the following year.
In 1967, she followed her brother King Constantine into exile in India before settling in Spain with her sister, Queen Sofía.
In 2018, she renounced her Greek nationality and became a Spanish national.
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The Greek, Spanish and British royals share a close bond. Princess Diana and Prince Charles are seen here holidaying with King Juan Carlos of SpainKing Constantine II of Greece, and their children. (Getty)
The Greek and British royal families continue to share a close bond.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana often holidayed with King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie.
King Constantine II, who died in 2023, was one of Prince William’s godfathers.
He was due to attend a memorial service to mark one year since King Constantine’s death in February 2024 when he pulled out at the last minute due to a “personal matter” – which coincided with Catherine being diagnosed with cancer.
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