A Reflection on the Reign of Greece’s King Constantine II and His Lasting Legacy

King Constantine II of Greece had a unique trajectory in the years before he ascended to the throne. From his active involvement in the machinations that brought down the elected center Union government of Prime Minister George Papandreou, to his forced exile after a failed counter-coup against the military dictatorship, Constantine’s journey was one of turbulence and resilience.

As a product of the Greek monarchy, he became deeply involved in politics at an early age. In 1964, he was crowned as King Constantine II and served as Head of State. He soon began to challenge the ruling military regime, which led to his exile in 1967.

Exiled in London, Constantine continued to fight against the ruling government from afar.

1. What year did Constantine II become king in Greece?

In 1964, Constantine II ascended to the throne of Greece as the country’s King. His reign was marked by the tumultuous political climate of the Cold War era. In 1967, the military-led coup d’état overthrew the monarchy and forced Constantine II and his family into exile. The new government abolished the monarchy, and Constantine II remained in exile until his death at 82 years old. During his exile, he maintained a strong presence in the Greek diaspora, becoming a symbol of national identity and unity, as well as continuing to advocate for the restoration of the monarchy in Greece.

2. What event caused Constantine to go into exile?

Greece’s former King Constantine II, who passed away at the age of 82, was the last monarch of Greece before the abolition of the Greek monarchy in 1973. The reign of Constantine II was marked by a period of political upheaval, leading to his eventual exile. The event that caused Constantine to go into exile was the 1967 coup d’état, which was launched by the Greek military junta. This coup was a response to the political instability caused by the civil unrest prevalent in Greece at the time. During the coup, the junta deposed Constantine II and declared a republic, eventually abolishing the Greek monarchy and replacing it with a presidential system of government.

3. What year was the Greek monarchy abolished?

Greece’s former King Constantine II passed away at the age of 82, and with his death, a key figure of a chapter of Greek history has been lost. The former king reigned from 1964 to 1973, after which the Greek monarchy was abolished in 1974 as a result of a referendum. This referendum, which was backed by the then-ruling military junta, was conducted despite a boycott from the opposition and was passed with a majority vote of more than 69%, resulting in Greece becoming a republic and formally ending the monarchy’s rule. This referendum was considered to be an important milestone in Greek history and had a lasting impact on the nation’s political landscape.

4. What was Constantine’s relationship to Prince William?

The news of the death of Greece’s former King Constantine II at the age of 82 has brought much grief to the nation; it is a time to reflect on his legacy, to remember the important role he played in the nation’s history. He was the last King of Greece, ruling from 1964 to 1973, and the father of the current pretender to the throne, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece. His relationship to Prince William is one of distant relation; King Constantine was the great-uncle of Prince William, as the two were related through the Greek and British royal families.

Quick Summary

It is with great sadness that the Greek nation mourns the death of King Constantine II. His nine-year reign from 1964 to 1973 was a tumultuous time for Greece, as it experienced extreme political upheaval, culminating in the military coup of 1967 and the establishment of a dictatorship. Despite this, King Constantine will be remembered fondly by many Greeks as a leader who tried to steer clear of political strife and act in the best interests of his people. His death marks the end of an era.