Wedding of Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark

The wedding of King Constantine II of the Hellenes, and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark took place on Friday, 18 September 1964 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. Constantine II, King of the Hellenes was the only son of King Paul of the Hellenes and Princess Friederike of Hanover, while Princess Anne-Marie was the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden. It was the first, and to date only, wedding of a Greek monarch whilst they sat on the throne.

Wedding of Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark
Date18 September 1964
VenueMetropolitan Cathedral of Athens
LocationAthens, Kingdom of Greece
ParticipantsKing Constantine II of the Hellenes
Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark

Engagement

The couple, third cousins through both Victoria of the United Kingdom and Christian IX of Denmark, first met in 1959 when then Crown Prince Constantine accompanied his parents on a state visit to Denmark. Princess Anne-Marie was just 13 at the time. They met again in 1961, and in 1962, Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Constantine's older sister, Princess Sophia, to Infante Juan Carlos of Spain. In 1962, Princess Anne-Marie was on holiday with her governess in Norway, where Crown Prince Constantine was attending a yacht racing event, he proposed, she accepted. King Frederick IX initially withheld his consent, as Anne-Marie was only 15 at the time, but eventually relented on the conditions that she finish her education and reach her 18th birthday.[1]

On 23 January 1963, the Danish royal court announced the engagement. The wedding was initially set for January 1965. Following the death of King Paul on 6 March 1964, the date was moved up.

Pre-wedding celebrations
Constantine and Anne-Marie at their pre-wedding gala at the Royal Palace.

In Denmark

The celebrations began in early September 1964. On 7 September, Constantine II arrived in Denmark where a private dinner was held at Fredensborg Palace. The next day, there was a gala performance at the Royal Danish Theatre followed by a banquet at Christiansborg Palace. The next morning, a reception was held at Copenhagen City Hall.

In Greece

King Constantine II, Princess Anne-Marie, King Frederick IX, Queen Ingrid, Princess Margrethe and Princess Benedikte sailed to Greece onboard the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog. A reception was held in honour of the Danish royal family at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.

On 16 September, most of the royal guests arrived in Greece by plane. That evening, a gala was held at the Royal Palace for 1,600 invited guests.

Wedding

Constantine and Anne-Marie were married on 18 September 1964, two weeks after Anne-Marie's 18th birthday.[2]

Ceremony

The marriage ceremony, taking place in the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, was conducted by Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece.

Attire

Princess Anne-Marie wore a relatively unadorned gown by Danish designer, Jørgen Bender. Her Irish lace veil, worn by her maternal grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connaught at her own wedding in 1905, was anchored by a Cartier diamond tiara given to Princess Margaret by the Khedive of Egypt. The veil had also been worn by her mother, Queen Ingrid, in 1935. The veil and tiara together have been worn by all of Ingrid's female descendants.

King Constantine II wore the ceremonial uniform of field marshal of the Hellenic Army. He wore the riband and star of the Order of the Redeemer as well as all his other medals and decorations.[3]

Bridesmaids

Crown bearers

Guests

The wedding was attended by 1200 guests from all over the world.[4] As both the bride and groom were descendants of Victoria of the United Kingdom and Christian IX of Denmark, they were closely related to almost all of the royal houses in Europe, many of whom were in attendance.

House of Glücksburg

House of Bernadotte

House of Glücksburg

House of Hanover

Other royal guests

References
  1. "Wedding of King Constantine of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". The Royal Watcher. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  2. "Woman in the News Royal Wedding in Athens Made Memorable by Its Distinguished Guests A Queen at 18 Anne‐Marie Dagmar Ingrid". The New York Times. 19 September 1964. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. "Wedding of King Constantine of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark". The Royal Watcher. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  4. "ATHENS - ROYAL WEDDING". AP Archive. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
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