Wedding of Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark
The wedding of Constantine II, King of the Hellenes, and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark took place on Friday, 18 September 1964 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. Constantine II, King of the Hellenes was the only son of Paul, King of the Hellenes and Frederica of Hanover, while Princess Anne-Marie was the youngest daughter of Frederick IX, King of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden.
Date | 18 September 1964 |
---|---|
Venue | Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens |
Location | Athens, Kingdom of Greece |
Participants | King Constantine II of the Hellenes Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark |
Engagement
The couple, third cousins through both Victoria of the United Kingdom and Christian IX of Denmark, first met in 1959 when then Crown Prince Constantine accompanied his parents on a state visit to Denmark. Princess Anne-Marie was just 13 at the time. They met again in 1961, and in 1962, Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Constantine's older sister, Princess Sophia, to Infante Juan Carlos of Spain. In 1962, Princess Anne-Marie was on holiday with her governess in Norway, where Crown Prince Constantine was attending a yacht racing event, he proposed, she accepted. King Frederick IX initially withheld his consent, as Anne-Marie was only 15 at the time, but eventually relented on the conditions that she finish her education and reach her 18th birthday.[1][2]
On 23 January 1963, the Danish royal court announced the engagement. The wedding was initially set or January 1965. Following the death of King Paul on 6 March 1964, the date was moved up.[3]
Pre-wedding celebrations
In Denmark
The celebrations began in early September 1964. On 7 September, Constantine II arrived in Denmark where a private dinner was held at Fredensborg Palace. The next day, there was a gala performance at the Royal Danish Theatre followed by a banquet at Christiansborg Palace. The next morning, a reception was held at Copenhagen City Hall.[4]
In Greece
King Constantine II, Princess Anne-Marie, King Frederick IX, Queen Ingrid, Princess Margrethe and Princess Benedikte sailed to Greece onboard the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog. A reception was held in honour of the Danish royal family at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
On 16 September, most of the royal guests arrived in Greece by plane. That evening, a gala was held at the Royal Palace for 1,600 invited guests.[5]
Wedding
Constantine and Anne-Marie were married on 18 September 1964, two weeks after Anne-Marie's 18th birthday.
Ceremony
The marriage ceremony, taking place in the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, was conducted by Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.
Attire
Princess Anne-Marie wore a relatively unadorned gown by Danish designer, Jørgen Bender. Her Irish lace veil, worn by her maternal grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connaught at her own wedding in 1905, was anchored by a Cartier diamond tiara given to Princess Margaret by the Khedive of Egypt. The veil had also been worn by her mother, Queen Ingrid, in 1935. The veil and tiara together have been worn by all of Ingrid's female descendants.[6]
King Constantine II wore the ceremonial uniform of field marshal of the Hellenic Army. He wore the riband and star of the Order of the Redeemer as well as all his other medals and decorations.[7]
Attendants
Bridesmaids
Guests
As both bride and bridegroom were descendants of Victoria of the United Kingdom and Christian IX of Denmark, they were closely related to almost all of the royal houses of Europe, many of whom were in attendance.
Bride's family
House of Glücksburg
- The King and Queen of Denmark, the bride's parents
- Princess Margrethe of Denmark, the bride's sister
- Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the bride's sister
- Prince Ingolf of Denmark, the bride's paternal first cousin
House of Bernadotte
- The King of Sweden, the bride's maternal grandfather
- Princess Christina of Sweden, the bride's maternal first cousin
- The Crown Prince of Sweden, the bride's maternal first cousin
- Count Michael Bernadotte af Wisborg, the bride's maternal first cousin
Bridegroom's family
House of Glücksburg
- Queen Frederica of Greece, the bridegroom's mother
- The Prince and Princess of Asturias, the bridegroom's sister and brother-in-law
- Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, the bridegroom's sister
- Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark and Major Richard Brandram, the bridegroom's paternal aunt and uncle
- Princess Eugénie, Duchess of Castel Duino and The Duke of Castel Duino, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed, and her husband
- Princess Tatiana Radziwiłł, the bridegroom's paternal second cousin
- Prince George Radziwiłł, the bridegroom's paternal second cousin
- Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, the bridegroom's paternal grandaunt
- Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed
House of Hanover
- The Duchess of Brunswick, the bridegroom's maternal grandmother
- Prince and Princess George William of Hanover, the bridegroom's maternal uncle and his wife, the bride's paternal first cousin, once removed
- Prince Karl of Hesse, the bridegroom's maternal first cousin, once removed and paternal second cousin
- Princess Clarissa of Hesse, the bridegroom's maternal first cousin, once removed and paternal second cousin
- Prince and Princess George William of Hanover, the bridegroom's maternal uncle and his wife, the bride's paternal first cousin, once removed
Other royal guests
The King and Queen of the Belgians, the bride's second cousin and his wife The Queen and Prince Consort of the Netherlands, the bridegroom's paternal third cousin, twice removed and her husband Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, the bridegroom's paternal fourth cousin, once removed
The King of Norway, the bride's paternal first cousin, once removed The Crown Prince of Norway, the bride's paternal second cousin
The Duke of Edinburgh, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed (representing the Queen of the United Kingdom) The Prince of Wales, the bridegroom's paternal second cousin The Princess Anne, the bridegroom's paternal second cousin
Prince Michael of Kent, the bridegroom's paternal second cousin The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the bride and bridegroom's mutual second cousin, once removed King Umberto II and Queen Marie-José of Italy, the bride and bridegroom's mutual third cousin, twice removed The Prince of Naples, the bride and bridegroom's mutual fourth cousin, once removed Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, the bride and bridegroom's mutual fourth cousin, once removed Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy, the bride and bridegroom's mutual fourth cousin, once removed
Princess Irene, Duchess of Aosta, the bridegroom's paternal aunt The Duke and Duchess of Aosta, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin and his wife
Queen Mother Helen of Romania, the bridegroom's paternal aunt King Michael I and Queen Anne of Romania, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin and his wife, the bride and bridegroom's mutual second cousin, once removed Princess Margareta of Romania, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed
Tsar Simeon II and Tsarista Margarita of Bulgaria, the bride and bridegroom's mutual fourth cousin, once removed The Count and Countess of Barcelona, the bride and bridegroom's mutual second cousin, once removed and his wife (also parents of the bridegroom's brother-in-law) Infanta Pilar of Spain, the bride and bridegroom's mutual third cousin
The Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, the bride's second cousin and her husband Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed Princess Paul of Yugoslavia, the bridegroom's paternal first cousin, once removed The Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein The Prince and Princess of Monaco The Duke and Duchess of Württemberg The King and Queen of Thailand The King and Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan Queen Farida of Egypt
References
- "Wedding of King Constantine of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". The Royal Watcher. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Mehl, Scott. "Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Mehl, Scott. "Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Mehl, Scott. "Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Mehl, Scott. "Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Top 10 Best Royal Wedding Dresses: #1. HM Queen Anne-Marie". The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Wedding of King Constantine of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". The Royal Watcher. Retrieved 25 January 2020.