Princess Irene of Greece Dies at 83

Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, the younger sister of Spain's former Queen Sofia, died on Thursday at the age of 83 in Madrid's Zarzuela Palace, surrounded by family members. The announcement came from the Spanish royal household, which stated that the princess passed away at 11:40 a.m. local time after a period of declining health.

Queen Sofia, 87, had canceled her scheduled engagements in Palma de Mallorca earlier in the week to remain by her sister's side during her final days. The Greek Royal Family expressed deep sadness in a separate statement, describing Irene as a "beloved sister and aunt" and noting that details about the funeral procession would follow. The passing marks another loss for the family, coming less than two years after the death of their brother, former King Constantine II of Greece, in January 2023.

Born on May 11, 1942, in Cape Town, South Africa, Princess Irene was the youngest child of King Paul and Queen Frederica of the Hellenes. Her birth occurred during the family's exile amid the Nazi occupation of Greece in World War II. The family returned to Greece in 1946, and Irene grew up in a royal household marked by political turbulence. Her father...