Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark
Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (Greek: Νικόλαος; 22 January 1872 – 8 February 1938), of the Glücksburg branch of the House of Oldenburg, was the fourth child and third son of King George I of Greece, and of Queen Olga. He was known as "Greek Nicky" within the family to distinguish him from his cousin Emperor Nicholas II of Russia (first cousin on the paternal side and second cousin on the maternal side). Prince Nicholas was a talented painter, often signing his works as "Nicolas Leprince."
Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark | |
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Born | Athens, Kingdom of Greece | 22 January 1872
Died | 8 February 1938 66) Athens, Kingdom of Greece | (aged
Burial | Royal Cemetery, Tatoi Palace, Greece |
Spouse | |
Issue | |
House | Glücksburg |
Father | George I of Greece |
Mother | Olga Constantinovna of Russia |
Marriage and issue
He married Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882–1957), daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia and Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the only sister of the future Russian imperial pretender, Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich, and his second cousin through his mother Olga Constantinovna of Russia and her father Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia, on 29 August 1902 in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia.[1]
They had three daughters:
- Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark (1903–1997); married Prince Paul of Yugoslavia. Olga was the maternal grandmother of actress Catherine Oxenberg and author Christina Oxenberg.
- Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark (1904–1955); married Count Carl Theodor of Toerring-Jettenbach.
- Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark (1906–1968); married Prince George, Duke of Kent. Marina was the mother of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, and Prince Michael of Kent.
The princesses were raised with an English nanny, Kate Fox, known as "Nurnie".[2]
Public life
Along with his elder brothers Constantine and George, Nicholas helped to organize the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, the first to be held since 393. Nicholas served as president of the Sub-Committee for Shooting.
His father bequeathed him the Royal Theater of Greece which Nicholas, in turn, transferred to the Greek state in 1935. He was friends with George Simitis and was godfather to his son, future socialist Prime Minister Kostas Simitis.[3]
Death and burial
Prince Nicholas died in Athens on February 8, 1938 and was buried in the Royal tomb at the Palace of Tatoi.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Styles of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark | |
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Reference style | His Royal Highness |
Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
Titles and styles
- 22 January 1872 – 8 February 1938: His Royal Highness Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark.
Honours
- Denmark:[4]
- R.E.: Knight of the Elephant, 7 September 1890
- D.M.: Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog, 29 October 1891
- Gb.E.T.: King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark Golden Wedding Commemorative Medal
- M.M. 8 Apr.: King Christian IX Centenary Medal
- Spain:
- Cross of Naval Merit, with White Decoration, 27 January 1892[5]
- Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, with Collar, 15 May 1902[6]
- United Kingdom: GCVO: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 16 August 1901[7]
- Grand Duchy of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, 18 April 1904[8]
- Kingdom of Italy: Knight of the Annunciation, 8 April 1907[9]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark |
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References
- "Historic royal portrait miniature brooch". Christies.
- "photographs of members of European royalty, together with several postcards, relating to the royal nanny Kate Fox". Bonhams.
- Markezinis, Spyros (1994). Political History of Modern Greece (in Greek).
- Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1933) [1st pub.:1801]. Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1933 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1933] (PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2020 – via da:DIS Danmark.
- Gaceta de Madrid: no. 28. p. 292. 15 May 1906.
- Guía oficial de España (1930)]: p. 221.
- "No. 27346". The London Gazette. 16 August 1901. p. 5409.
- "Ludewigs-orden", Großherzoglich Hessische Ordensliste (in German), Darmstadt: Staatsverlag, 1914, p. 6 – via hathitrust.org
- Italy. Ministero dell'interno (1920). Calendario generale del regno d'Italia. p. 57.