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.
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[edit] Birth and family
He was born in Rome to Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and his second wife, Princess Françoise of Greece and Denmark, (nee 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 (b. 17 July 1940) on 7 February 1965, at the Royal Palace in Athens. Her parents were Theodore Karella 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 in her own right. She will be known as Princess Michael of Greece and Denmark." 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]
For his future descendants the use of the title, "Prince or Princess of Greece" by issue of the marriage was recognized by the King, but they do not bear the style of Royal Highness and the title Prince or Princess of Denmark, traditionally accorded to members of the Greek royal family.[2]
The couple has two daughters:
- Princess Alexandra of Greece (born 15 October 1968), who is married to Nicolas Mirzayantz and has two sons, Tigran and Darius Mirzayantz.
- Princess Olga of Greece (born 17 November 1971), engaged to her distant cousin Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia, son of Amadeo, 5th Duke of Aosta and paternal grandson of Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, second daughter of King Constantine I. The engagement was announced in 2005 but as of 14 June 2008 the couple has not wed.
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[edit] Books
- The White Night of St. Petersburg, a historical novel.
- "Sultana" (Harper & Row, 1993)
- "The Empress of Farewells: The Story of Charlotte, Empress of Mexico" (2002)
- "Living with Ghosts"
- "Unusual Memories" (2004)
- "Louis XIV: The Other Side of the Sun"
- "Le Rajah Bourbon" (2007)
[edit] References
- ^ "Prince Michael Weds Commoner", The New York Times, 8 February 1965, page 3.
- ^ Willis, Daniel (1999). The Descendants of Louis XIII. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co., 94, 762. ISBN 0-8063-4942-5.
- Persons eligible to succeed to the British Throne as of 1 Jan 2001, listed as 3356. Mikhail P Greece (*1939), retrieved 2008-05-15. Note: Nominally in line of succession but not eligible to take throne due to Catholicism.
| Preceded by Christina Oxenberg |
Line of succession to the British Throne | Succeeded by Princess Alexandra of Greece |
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