Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark

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Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark (born 7 January 1939) is the author of several historical novels and biographies, as well as a contributing writer to Architectural Digest.

Contents 1 Birth and family 2 Education and military service 3 Marriage and children 4 Books 5 References

[edit] Birth and family

He was born in Rome to Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and his second wife, Françoise de Guise, Princess of Orléans; his father died when he was a year old.

His paternal grandparents were George I of Greece and Olga Konstantinovna of Russia. His maternal grandparents were Jean d'Orléans, duc de Guise and his wife Isabelle d'Orléans.

[edit] Education and military service

Michael studied the political sciences in Paris. He then served a term in the Hellenic Army, discharged with the rank of Third Lieutenant.

[edit] Marriage and children

He married the artist Marina Karella (17 July 1940) on 7 February 1965, at the Royal Palace in Athens. Her parents were Theodore Karellas and Elly Chalikiopoulos. This was a morganatic marriage, which resulted in Prince Michael renouncing any rights to the throne of Greece on behalf of himself and his future descendants; this renunciation occurred prior to the marriage, after which the marriage was approved by King Constantine II.

"Because of constitutional restrictions", said an article about the marriage in The New York Times, "the bride will not acquire the title of princess. She will be known as Marina, consort of Prince Michael of Greece." The article further stated that the bride was a granddaughter of a textile mill owner whose investments raised the family to great wealth and social acceptance.^[1]

The couple has two daughters:

• Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark (born 15 October 1968), who is married to Nicolas Mirzayantz and has two sons, Tigran and Darius Mirzayantz.
• Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark (born 17 November 1971), engaged to her distant cousin Prince Aimone of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Apulia, son of Amadeo, 5th Duke of Aosta

Styles of Prince Michael of Greece Reference style His Royal Highness Spoken style Your Royal Highness Alternative style Sir

[edit] Books

• The White Night of St. Petersburg, a historical novel.
• "Sultana" (Harper & Row, 1993)
• "The Empress of Farewells"
• "Living with Ghosts"
• "Unusual Memories" (2004)
• "Louis XIV: The Other Side of the Sun"

[edit] References

1. ^ j"Prince Michael Weds Commoner", The New York Times, 8 February 1965, page 3.