Princess Irene of Greece (1904-1974)

[eejm]

Yes, if the name was Sophia or Sofia, it would be the Greek version. My remark was made to the effect that if any of the princesses were named Sophie instead, it would seem to indicate being named after the Queen.

When I went and looked, it seems that the later Greek princesses (Alice's daughter and King Paul's daughter) were named Sofia/Sophia according to the Online Gotha.

King Paul's daughter, Queen Sofia of Spain, was named after her grandmother, Queen Sophie of Greece. The queen said this during an interview several years ago.

In any case, Queen Sophie was known in Greece as Sofia/Sophia, the Greek version of her name, not Sophie.

Queen Sofia of Spain was known among her family as Sophie, and was also referred to as Sophie in in press reports before her marriage.  I don't believe she was ever officially known as Sophie in Greece.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think in Greek it was Sophia. I think Sophie is French ?

[grandduchessella]

I think we've diverted the topic from Irene onto the various Sophie/Sophias long enough. Time to move on--8 or 9 posts is enough. If there's enough interest, a thread on names can be started.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. Even Irene's name has a variation. Grand Duchess Xenia's daughter was called Irina. I think a form of Irene.

Too bad that unlike Helen who kept a diary that was used in books on her and her son King Michael, Irene did not seem to keep a diary. Not an easy person to research.

[Carolath Habsburg]

Irene. Credits on the image


 
 

[KarlandZita]

Irene's glamorous portrait doubtless taken in the 20s. As her older sister, had Irene a nickname in her family ?

[grandduchessella]

Wasn't it Tim?

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. It was Tim. 

[KarlandZita]

Thank you for the answer.

Well, It is a very male nickname ... So nicknamed her one because she looked like strongly her father and because she seemed less feminine than her older sister?

[Eric_Lowe]

Not sure. Helen was called "Sitta" because of her brother's attempt to call her "sister". Tim may have another story to go with it. Like why is Victoria Melita called "Ducky" ? I am sure it is not that she looked like a duck.

[grandduchessella]

Victoria Melita's mother Marie was called either Duck or The Duck within her Russian family--perhaps that had some correlation?

[Eric_Lowe]

Not sure. Although I read "Ducky" was a common nickname in English society either male or female. Missy was more feminine. So Tim might be a form of little Timmy or Tommy. It is so secret that Queen Sophie was very "English" in her tastes.

[Svetabel]

Please post here info and images on Princess Irene only of 1904-1939 period (before her marriage). For 1939-1974 years there's a topic in the Italian subforum:

http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=3678.0

[Eric_Lowe]

Not too info on her before her marriage. She was happy to live under her sister's shadow.

[KarlandZita]

Not too info on her before her marriage. She was happy to live under her sister's shadow.

Few information over this period of her life indeed, to part those concerning her hypothetical engagement or her breaks of engagement with diverse princes as Nicolas of Rumania or Christian of Schaumbourg-Lippe. Irene was even considered weather by the journalists of time as a bride possible for the Prince of Wales, later Edward WIII then always single.