It was a sombre occasion for the Greek royal family as Princess Maria Olympia of Greece and her brother Prince Constantine-Alexios of Greece attended the Memorial Service of their grandfather King Constantine II of Greece.
The service which took place in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens marked 40-days since the King’s death in January. The day concludes the traditional Greek 40-day memorial period and has a major significance in traditions of the Eastern Orthodox church.
It is believed that the soul of the departed remains wandering on Earth during the 40-day period, coming back home, visiting places the departed has lived in as well as their fresh grave. Princess Maria Olympia, who was also joined by her father Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, who is now head of the greek royal family and her mother Crown Princess Marie-Chantal.
The London-based royal stuck to the traditional black dress code, in line with royal protocol, wearing a knee length black dress and opaque tights. Her frock is from cult-favourite brand The Vampire's Wife (a go-to brand of he Princess of Wales) and follows the label’s signature cropped sleeve, fitted-bodice silhouette before flaring to a flattering A-line skirt.
Olympia, who is known for her close ties with the fashion world and has become a muse to designers such as Aquazzura, has been noticeably absent during this season of London Fashion Week. The event normally sees her in attendance at the major shows, but she has stepped away this year due to her family commitments.
His funeral which took place in January saw many of the major European royals in attendance, including Queen Margrethe of Denmark and King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain were also among those paid their respects to the monarch.
Queen Emeritus Sofia has traveled to Athens to attend the ceremony in honor of her brother. King Felipe VI’s mother was accompanied by her sister, Princess Irene and her two daughters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina.
Sofia and Irene, deeply affected by the death of their brother, were comforted not only by the Spanish infantas, but also by their nephews and nieces.
The queen emeritus and her daughters wore mourning clothes. Sofia wore a dress with a pleated skirt, coat, and scarf. Infanta Elena, meanwhile, opted for a black skirt and blazer, while Infanta Cristina, who did not let go of Princess Irene’s hand, wore a pleated skirt and blazer with gold buttons. She complemented her look with black boots.
Despite the sadness, the emeritus queen smiled and greeted the people who crowded the doors of the temple who wanted to show their support for the deceased and his family.