Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, the cherished sister of Spain’s Queen Sofia and aunt to King Felipe, passed away at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid on January 15, 2026. She was 83. The Greek Royal Family reported her death, stating that she died surrounded by family at 11:40 local time after a period of cognitive decline.
Princess Irene was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 11, 1942, during her family’s exile. Her parents, Crown Prince Paul and Princess Frederika (later King Paul I and Queen Frederica), had escaped Athens due to the Nazi invasion of Greece in World War II. Her family returned to Greece in 1946 after a referendum reinstated her uncle, King George II, to the throne.
Having trained with famed musician Gina Bachauer, Princess Irene became an esteemed concert pianist. She performed professionally in the 1970s and earned a three-minute standing ovation after a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in 1969. Her love for music was a lifelong pursuit, matched by her profound interest in archaeology.
She worked closely with Queen Sofia on archaeological digs and jointly published the Archaeological Digest in 1960 with the Greek scholar Theophano Arvanitopoulou. The sisters maintained a strong bond throughout their lives, with Irene becoming a surrogate mother to Sofia’s three children.
Her life shifted dramatically in 1964 when King Paul succumbed to illness, leading her brother Constantine to ascend the throne as King Constantine II of Greece at the age of 23. Initially, he enjoyed public support but later faced political instability. A military coup took control in 1967, eventually forcing Constantine into exile. The Greek monarchy was officially abolished in 1973.
During the turbulent 1970s, Princess Irene relocated to India with her mother, where she delved into the study of Hindu culture. It is believed that she converted to Hinduism during this time, developing a deep spirituality that guided her throughout her life. Following Queen Frederica’s death in 1981, the then 39-year-old princess moved to Spain to be near her sister.
In an interview with HOLA magazine, Princess Irene quipped, “I came to Madrid for five days and stayed for five years.” Over time, she felt her place was with Sofia and she eventually settled into an apartment at Zarzuela Palace, home to King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofia.
Princess Irene preferred to stay out of the limelight despite her royal lineage and instead dedicated herself to charitable endeavors. She established the World in Harmony NGO in 1986 and the World in Harmony Foundation and notably donated her entire inheritance to these organizations.
“I have no status; I am the Queen’s sister, nothing more, and I am not an official,” Princess Irene once stated. She asserted that her sister and the king were the official representatives, not her. In 2018, she obtained Spanish nationality and renounced her Greek nationality.
Her nieces and nephews affectionately referred to her as “Aunt Pecu,” a shorthand for peculiar, reflecting her unique and eccentric personality. Princess Irene embraced this moniker with good humor, acknowledging in interviews that her family often teased her for being the unconventional member, even Queen Sofia.
She maintained close ties with multiple generations of European royalty. Her father, King Paul, was Prince Philip’s first cousin, who was born as Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark. Her late brother, King Constantine II, was Prince William’s godfather and remained close friends with King Charles throughout his life.
Princess Irene’s final public appearance was at the wedding of her nephew and godson, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, to Chrysi Vardinogiánni in February 2025 in Athens. She attended the celebration in a wheelchair reflecting her declining health. Reports suggest she had been experiencing cognitive decline for several years before her death.
As Princess Irene’s health deteriorated, Queen Sofia cancelled royal engagements in Palma de Mallorca in January 2026 to stay by her sister’s side. The former queen was present when Princess Irene passed away.
The Spanish royal household confirmed the death in a statement. King Felipe and Queen Letizia, along with Queen Sofia, announced that the princess had died at the palace, expressing their deep sadness at her passing.
Princess Irene is survived by Queen Sofia, King Felipe of Spain, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, and numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. Infanta Cristina of Spain named her daughter, born in 2005, Irene in honor of her aunt. The Greek Royal Family stated that funeral arrangements would be announced soon.
Throughout her 83 years, Princess Irene lived a life marked by exile, political upheaval, and personal growth, all while maintaining her commitment to family and philanthropy. Her life journey took her from wartime South Africa to post-war Greece, from spiritual India to her final home in Spain, where she was a constant, albeit quiet, presence in the lives of those she loved.
