Celia
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I think his funeral will be a pretty big deal. He was a reigning king at one point, after all. In fact, wasn't he the last European monarch to be deposed? I humbly submit that his death and funeral should have their own thread.
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periwinkle
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They should give him a strong farewell but Greeks will not support a big show and closed streets that kind of thing. They will be polite and quiet but grand celebration beyond the church going all out will not be tolerated imo. Pavlos especially will need to not stand out other than as one of five children of the deceased.
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Booklover
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They should give him a strong farewell but Greeks will not support a big show and closed streets that kind of thing. They will be polite and quiet but grand celebration beyond the church going all out will not be tolerated imo. Pavlos especially will need to not stand out other than as one of five children of the deceased.
Will the funeral be in Athens?
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bumbershoot
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What's a Greek Orthodox funeral like? I only know Russian Orthodox friends and for them, there's a lot of kissing the dead person lying in the coffin. Do the Greeks do that as well?
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miliosr
Micro Member
Reputation: 127
Offline
United States
Posts: 191
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They should give him a strong farewell but Greeks will not support a big show and closed streets that kind of thing. They will be polite and quiet but grand celebration beyond the church going all out will not be tolerated imo. I agree. The funeral will be moderate and will be presented as a gathering of his many royal relatives. There are too many people in Greece who still harbor deep resentments toward Constantine for his actions in the 1967 colonels' coup for it to be anything else.
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lilyrose
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I wonder what kind of guest list we can expect from the funeral--Constantine was closely related to so many royals, either by blood or via marriage (and often, still by blood lol). Definitely Sofia will be present, and Margrethe as well to support her sister. I would be shocked not to see Sofia and Margrethe's children attend, but their grandchildren probably not if they'll be at school. Definitely Tino's grandchildren will be there though.
Beatrix will probably go and possibly Wax & Max, Harald may send Haakon if his own health is still a concern. Probably Carl Gustaf and maybe Vic too. I think Albert and Paola as well if their health is okay and Philippe and Mathilde probably too. Henri, Albert and Alois possibly too from the smaller countries. I am thinking William is the most likely UK represenative, but I could also see at least one of the Kents going as Constantine was their second cousin--maybe Michael since he's in the best health out of his siblings
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jessmie
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Some Greek media report that Pavlos and Nikolaos met with the Minister of State last Thursday to inform him about the gravity of the situation and communicate the family’s wishes regarding the funeral.
Apparently, they want a public funeral, at the State’s expense, the body to lie in state at the Cathedral and be buried in Tatoi, the former royal palace along King Pavlos and Friederike’s tombs. The Cabinet will meet today to discuss what will be done.
My personal thoughts: NO WAY this is a public funeral at the State’s expense. They will also hopefully NOT allow them to have to body lie in state. The family wants him to be buried as if he’s a head of state, when he is not and hasn’t been since 1967!
The family’s wishes are totally unreasonable. Even if there are royalists in this government, Ministers who may agree, the government is from the Conservative Party, it’s a huge risk from a communications perspective to agree to some of the above plans. Plus, they would totally “give the finger” to the Constitution!
The family may be bitter about what happened 49 years ago with the referendum, but they are overreaching with their requests and even disappointing those who were sympathetic towards them!
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LadyBunion
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sort of thing that should have been agreed years ago - like the DoW's -
It is a problem - what do you do with an ex-monarch?? Solution is to have something decent and respectable for the family - so no public lying in state / closing of the city, yes if they want to bury him at Tatoi - they will have to find a compromise
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onar
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Some Greek media report that Pavlos and Nikolaos met with the Minister of State last Thursday to inform him about the gravity of the situation and communicate the family’s wishes regarding the funeral.
Apparently, they want a public funeral, at the State’s expense, the body to lie in state at the Cathedral and be buried in Tatoi, the former royal palace along King Pavlos and Friederike’s tombs. The Cabinet will meet today to discuss what will be done.
My personal thoughts: NO WAY this is a public funeral at the State’s expense. They will also hopefully NOT allow them to have to body lie in state. The family wants him to be buried as if he’s a head of state, when he is not and hasn’t been since 1967!
The family’s wishes are totally unreasonable. Even if there are royalists in this government, Ministers who may agree, the government is from the Conservative Party, it’s a huge risk from a communications perspective to agree to some of the above plans. Plus, they would totally “give the finger” to the Constitution!
The family may be bitter about what happened 49 years ago with the referendum, but they are overreaching with their requests and even disappointing those who were sympathetic towards them!
I don't think it's totally unreasonable for them - they don't get however that they're not llikable here, like... they cannot be seen "taken" things from the State. I agree the greek government shouldn't pay for the funeral but representatives of other royal houses are expected and the ceremony should be something more than descent - for Greece's pubic image. Just my humble opinion. I know many many people don't care or prefer to show that monarchies in general is not acceptable here etc. BUT I think he should be buried in Tatoi. It was a big deal for him.
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onar
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sort of thing that should have been agreed years ago - like the DoW's -
It is a problem - what do you do with an ex-monarch?? Solution is to have something decent and respectable for the family - so no public lying in state / closing of the city, yes if they want to bury him at Tatoi - they will have to find a compromise
We wrote the same! Ex monarch who left under very bitter and intense circumstances!
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jessmie
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He will be buried at Tatoi. I do not think the government would object to that. Tatoi may be a public estate, but all his ancestors are buried there and it was Constantine’s wish.
The rest of the family’s requests however, are unreasonable and I stand by that. Greece has held some state funerals for great actors who have offered a lot of the arts and Greece’s international reputation. There have been state funerals for some politicians and heads of state.
However, while Constantine was a head of state, his case is different. He was a king, deposed an elected government, sworn-in the military junta, and then had a Pikachu face when they told him to get lost. The monarchy was abolished in 1974. Constantine hasn’t been a head of state in 59 years. He’s not even a Greek citizen. He has no Greek passport. He’s part of history, but that history is done and dusted.
The family’s wishes show blatant ignorance on their side IMO, and though royalists worship them, and we do have a lot of royalists in Greece I think, satisfying those wishes is like a middle finger to the Constitution and the history of Greece with Constantine. He was dignified, but he looted the palace when he left, lobbied foreign governments and royal families, and Greek royalist politicians after the referendum in 1974, trying to reinstate the monarchy. He sued Greece and received over 13 million euros in 2003 as compensation.
The family is rich enough to host royals who wish to attend the funeral, provide accommodation and transportation and private security. They did it for Nick’s and Philippos’ weddings, they can do it now.
If they want to demonstrate their ignorance and disrespect for Greece, they will make arrangements with the Church without the government’s agreement, and force the government to satisfy their wishes. We don’t need that. Nobody needs that. There are more important problems.
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Ghost
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Have there been any former presidents of Greece who passed away? How was it done for them? He is a former head of state for Greece, whatever protocol there’s in place for a former head of state should apply to him also. Of course, the people’s mood should be taken into account, and the scale and spectacle tempered accordingly.
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Lovis
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He will be buried at Tatoi. I do not think the government would object to that. Tatoi may be a public estate, but all his ancestors are buried there and it was Constantine’s wish.
The rest of the family’s requests however, are unreasonable and I stand by that. Greece has held some state funerals for great actors who have offered a lot of the arts and Greece’s international reputation. There have been state funerals for some politicians and heads of state.
However, while Constantine was a head of state, his case is different. He was a king, deposed an elected government, sworn-in the military junta, and then had a Pikachu face when they told him to get lost. The monarchy was abolished in 1974. Constantine hasn’t been a head of state in 59 years. He’s not even a Greek citizen. He has no Greek passport. He’s part of history, but that history is done and dusted.
The family’s wishes show blatant ignorance on their side IMO, and though royalists worship them, and we do have a lot of royalists in Greece I think, satisfying those wishes is like a middle finger to the Constitution and the history of Greece with Constantine. He was dignified, but he looted the palace when he left, lobbied foreign governments and royal families, and Greek royalist politicians after the referendum in 1974, trying to reinstate the monarchy. He sued Greece and received over 13 million euros in 2003 as compensation.
The family is rich enough to host royals who wish to attend the funeral, provide accommodation and transportation and private security. They did it for Nick’s and Philippos’ weddings, they can do it now.
If they want to demonstrate their ignorance and disrespect for Greece, they will make arrangements with the Church without the government’s agreement, and force the government to satisfy their wishes. We don’t need that. Nobody needs that. There are more important problems.
Which citizenship did he have?
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lula
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Normally countries have protocols for the funerals of former Heads of State and Government, and the Greek government should adhere to what it normally does with former Heads of State which will be something in between a grand state funeral and a normal funeral. From what the media explain, burial on Tatoi is not a problem.
The decisions of the Greek government will mark how big the funeral is, and how many members of royalty attend because it is the Greek government who must give them security.
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onar
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Have there been any former presidents of Greece who passed away? How was it done for them? He is a former head of state for Greece, whatever protocol there’s in place for a former head of state should apply to him also. Of course, the people’s mood should be taken into account, and the scale and spectacle tempered accordingly.
Yes, the two most recent I can remember they were buried like State figures (is that the actual term? ), one of them surely had gun salutes and the funerals were made with public expenses. Konstantinos however left the country in bitter way, he was definitely undesirable and for many people he commited treason when he sworn junta's generals as government. *Jessmie I didn't support that the state should provide accomodation about royals and other people who may attend the funeral but there will be need for protection and as State there's the need not to show our usual lack of organisation
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