Queen Sofia of Spain was supported by two of her granddaughters,
Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, as funeral ceremonies began for
Princess Irene of Greece.
Irene, Sofia’s younger sister, died on January 15 at the age of
83 at her home at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.
The first of her funeral ceremonies was held at the Orthodox
Cathedral of St Andrew and St Demetrius in Madrid on January 17
with her Spanish relations in full attendance.
Rey
Queen Sofia, 87, was accompanied into the cathedral by Leonor,
20, and Sofia, 18, while King Felipe and Queen Letizia led mourners
in.
The coffin of Princess Irene, covered in a flag bearing the
crest of the Greek royal family, was later carried into the church.
Irene was born a Princess of Greece and Denmark and was, briefly,
heir to the Greek throne when her older brother, Constantine,
became King of the Hellenes in 1963.
Some of Irene’s Greek royal relatives joined this first memorial
ceremony and many more will be at her funeral in Athens which will
be followed by burial at the royal cemetery at Tatoi.
died at her home in Madrid on January 15 2026
Alexia, the daughter of King Constantine who replaced Irene as
heir to the throne, was there along with her children. Alexia
walked in with her cousin, Infanta Cristina, younger daughter of
Queen Sofia.
Cristina’s sister, Infanta Elena, also attended along with her
daughter, Victoria de Marichalar. Her son, Froilan, wasn’t there –
he now lives in Abu Dhabi which is also home to his grandfather,
King Juan Carlos, who didn’t make the trip to Madrid for Irene’s
funeral ceremony. El Pais reported that doctors had decided that
the long trip, at such short notice, wasn’t good for his
health.
Rey
However, his sister, Infanta Margarita, was at the service.
Infanta Cristina named her only daughter after Princess Irene
and Irene Urdangarin attended the service along with two of her
brothers, Juan and Miguel.
Queen Sofia was supported throughout the service by Princess
Leonor and Infanta Sofia and walked out on the arm of her son, King
Felipe VI. The chapel was open to the public in the hours that
followed so that others could pay their own last respects to
Princess Irene.
Irene’s funeral in Athens takes place on January 18 2026 with
King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their two daughters travelling to
Greece with Queen Sofia. Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece and Crown
Princess Marie Chantal will join them along with other members of
the Greek royal family for a final farewell.
