Constantine II of Greece

Constantine II (Κωνσταντῖνος Βʹ, Τέως Βασιλεὺς τῶν Ἑλλήνων, Konstantínos Βʹ, Teos Vasiléfs ton Ellínon; 2 June 1940 – 10 January 2023) was the former King of Greece, reigning from 6 March 1964 until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on 1 June 1973.

Quotes

I consider myself King of the Hellenes and sole expression of legality in my country until the Greek people freely decide otherwise. I fully expected that the [military] regime would depose me eventually. They are frightened of the Crown because it is a unifying force among the people.
- As quoted in W.J.P. Curley (1975) Monarchs In Waiting, pp.39-41

I don't have a name - my family doesn't have a name. The law that Mr. Papandreou passed basically says that he considers that I am not Greek and that my family was Greek only so long as we were exercising the responsibilities of sovereign, and I had to go out and acquire a name. The problem is that my family originates from Denmark, and the Danish royal family haven't got a surname.
- "King Without a Country," Vanity Fair (July 1995)

If the Greek people decide that they want a republic, they are entitled to have that and should be left in peace to enjoy it.
- "Throneless abroad: The men who would be king" TIME magazine (Jun. 3, 2002/Vol. 159 No. 22)

Quotes about Constantine

Sadly, he's mean as well as stupid, and takes advantage of our generosity.
- Asadollah Alam (1991), The Shah and I: The Confidential Diary of Iran's Royal Court, 1968-77, page 310

I've always been a republican, naturally, and I certainly can't say I sympathise with Constantine... I'm not interested in stating whether or not I like him. What interests me is whether or not he's useful in the fight against the junta.
- Alexandros Panagoulis, as quoted by Oriana Fallaci (June 1972), as quoted in Intervista con la Storia (sixth edition, 2011) p. 875

External links

Encyclopedic article on Constantine II of Greece on Wikipedia
Media related to Constantine II of Greece on Wikimedia Commons