1967 revolution & chances of reinstatement

[Ilias_of_John]

a former Princess of Greece and Denmark?

Well, she still is a Princess of Greece and Denmark, they don't lose their titles upon gaining a new more senior one!
Anyway, the republican fools in Greece are probably simmering with steam coming out of  their ears as she is loved by many both in Spain and in Greece.
Footage I have seen shows many well wishes and attention paid to her, not just former staff and friends or ardent royalists, but by many of the younger Greeks and the wealthier classes of Greek society!.
Needless to say, when the King and Queen visit, even without any prior knoweledge, they tend to be mobbed by crowds who seem to materialize out of nowhere.
I remember some years back when the Kings yacht was buzzed by Greek Airforce transport planes to prevent him landing at Gytheio, the crowds waiting for him were rather large and I presume that if the GRF had landed the groundswell of public support could have achieved just about anything!!!

[dmitri]

Well the republic goes on and on and becomes more mediocre. Sadly I can't see the day any restoration will occur as the media if firmly controlled by republicans. If you have the chance there was a very good series made by Danish television called "Kings Without Crowns". Apart from episodes on King Michael of Romania and Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia, there is an episode on King Constantine. Even though this program is now reasonably old there are interviews with Constantine and Anne-Marie and also with republicans. It sort of sums up well the irrational and extreme hatred of the King and his family and the monarchy in general by important politicians. I really think the King was truly betrayed after the Colonels were overthrown. The King should have been called back. Instead the Prime Minister decided without any consent from the people to keep the illegal military junta declared republic still in force. The same Prime Minister then held a referendum to legitimise his decision and kept the King out of Greece during the campaign. If that was not manipulated to bring about a republican result nothing could be! King Constantine though has respected the vote of the Greek people and has not tried to interfere with the internal affairs of Greece. He should be admired for this. Perhaps history will treat him kindly in the long run because of his extremely dignified behaviour post 1974. 

[Ilias_of_John]

Here is an article.

http://www.norepublic.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1340&Itemid=1

[Norbert]

Thank-you for that. Sadly many young Greeks tell me that time has made the Royal Family irrelevant

[Ilias_of_John]

Dont know about irrelevant Norbert.
I would reply that the Young Greeks you mentioned may be misinformed!
But I'm working on changing that!
(Wink)

[dmitri]

I think you will face an uphill battle sadly.

[Ilias_of_John]

Dmitri,
citizenship and illegal referendums are the two major bee's in my bonnet!
One day people will realize that this family was robbed of things that are God's alone to take, for He was the one who granted them
H.M and family are financially ok today and they have Danish and Spanish passports, but they lost thier identity as such, which the thieves, I wont call them the State, had no right to.
Also, they didnt just do it to the GRF, they stole and pillaged from half the population, yet the fools within Greece accept it on the chin and worry about the next ouzo and siesta!
Subsequently the lone voice that cries in the wilderness is lonely, but times change and people slowly wake up!
Look at what CP Alexander is slowly achieving in Serbia, or what Juan Carlos has done in Spain.
A strong Constituitional Monarchy, with a constituition set in stone is by far the best form of democracy there is, and most senior jurists (of western nations) agree!

[Norbert]

How wonderful to have such faith. I suppose you are the monarchist whom politians fear the most from achieveing their goal for ultimate control. Karamanlis who was  an elected supporter of the the constitutional monarchy made himself President in the end.

[dmitri]

Ilias I understand why you are saying and agree. Sadly I can't see Constantine being able to restore the monarchy in Greece. He has been slandered so often that sadly people in Greece have accepted what has been claimed about him repeatedly. After all one would have to be over 40 to remember his time as King. That excludes a huge section of the population who have never known anything else but the republic. I can remember once seeing an interview in "Kings Without Crowns" where both Constantine and Anne-Marie said they had been lucky to be able to spend more time with their children - a byproduct of being in exile. I guess there have been some compensations. 

[historylover]

I agree also.  There was a programme about King Constantine on SBS here recently which David Flint refers to in his excellent article.  This was very interesting.

It did make the point that the King never said anything against the Junta but he had tried an alternative coup! That would have been incredibly difficult and I think that he did
his best.

Constitutional monarchy certainly is the best form of government.  Unfortunately the new Labor government will probably soon start on their Republican agenda.  I was pleased to see Helen Liddell, the British High Commissioner, say that Republicanism was rarely an issue that had been mentioned to her.  I can understand people having a bad opinion of Prince Charles, to some degree, but they don't seem to understand that he is a figurehead.  Why do they want politicians to have more power?  It really makes me angry.

I would like to own a copy of The Spectator with the article. Maybe I will be able to find it at Ebay.

Best Regards,
Lisa
www.webwritereditor.com

[Ilias_of_John]

How wonderful to have such faith. I suppose you are the monarchist whom politians fear the most from achieveing their goal for ultimate control. Karamanlis who was  an elected supporter of the the constitutional monarchy made himself President in the end.(Norbert)

Politicians only fear those who take politicians power away from them! Karamanlis changed his colours for his own glory and power. If he was a true democrat and constituitional Monarchist he would have invited H.M to partake in the referendum of '74.  Instead he seized all power in his own hands and gave Greece and the Greeks poverty and turmoil. Funny how we have never seen official and audited results from that so called referendum isn't it? Never suppose or assume Norbert, you make an ass of your self!            

Dmitri, the under 40 year old Greeks don't remember the Kingdom, only the current Republic, yet now, they all have the internet and can find and debate things out for themselves,  just like we are doing!
History lover, the people dont want the politicians to have more power, its the politicians who do.  Professor Flint makes the excellent point that if people are unhappy with our the system in Australia, then we should have a vote of no confidence in it,  so far no response from the Republicans

[dmitri]

Yes Ilias republicans rarely accept the democratic votes that squash their grab for power. They do expect however monarchists to always accept whatever results they achieve through whatever means. Ever noticed that most republics do not come into being through legal means?

[Ilias_of_John]

Yes

[Norbert]

Never suppose or assume Norbert, you make an ass of your self!

Sorry, I was supporting your cause not making fun of you. I remember how we all thought the king would be restored...he visited No 10 to discuss the future and then WHAM, Karamanlis decieded to take his place.

[dmitri]

Yes Karamanlis was just as big a criminal as those in the military junta. Fancy him having the damn cheek of fiddling with the Greek constitution rather than inviting the King back as the constitution required. How odious he was and still remains. The Greek people should despise him and trample his memory into the dust.