List of heirs to the Greek throne

Standard and Arms of the Crown Prince of Greece

The list includes all individuals who were first in line to the throne of Greece, either as heir apparent or as heir presumptive, since 1832 (cf. Crown Prince of Greece). Those who actually succeeded to the throne are shown in bold.

Heir to the throne (House of Wittelsbach)

Monarch	Heir	Relationship to monarch	Became heir; reason	Ceased to be heir; reason	Next in succession, relation to heir
Otto I	Luitpold Karl	Younger brother	27 May 1832; Formation of Kingdom of Greece	18 March 1844; Non-Orthodox dynasts excluded from succession	Adalbert Wilhelm, brother

Heir to the throne (House of Glücksburg)

Heirs to the Greek throne
House of Glücksburg (1863–1924)
Monarch	Heir	Relationship to monarch	Became heir (Date; Reason)	Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason)	Next in line of succession
George I	None, 1863–1868
	Crown Prince Constantine	Son	2 August 1868 Born	18 March 1913 Father assassinated, became king	None, 1868–1869
					Prince George, 1869–1890, brother
					Prince George, 1890–1913, son
Constantine I	Crown Prince George	Son	18 March 1913 Father became king	11 June 1917 Father deposed, younger brother selected as king	Prince Alexander, brother
Alexander I	None, 1917–1920^[a]
Constantine I	Crown Prince George	Son	19 December 1920 Father restored as king by referendum	27 September 1922 Father abdicated, became king	Prince Paul, brother
George II	Prince Paul	Brother	27 September 1922 Brother became king	25 March 1924 Monarchy abolished, confirmed by referendum	Prince George, uncle
House of Glücksburg (restoration) (1935–1973)
Monarch	Heir	Relationship to monarch	Became heir (Date; Reason)	Ceased to be heir (Date; Reason)	Next in line of succession
George II	Prince Paul	Brother	25 November 1935 Monarchy restored by referendum	1 April 1947 Brother died, became king	Prince George, 1935–1940, uncle
George II	Prince Paul	Brother	25 November 1935 Monarchy restored by referendum	1 April 1947 Brother died, became king	Prince Constantine, 1940–1947, son
Paul I	Crown Prince Constantine	Son	1 April 1947 Father became king	6 March 1964 Father died, became king	Prince George, 1940–1952, granduncle
					Princess Sophia,^[b] 1952–1962, sister
					Princess Irene,^[c] 1962–1964, sister
Constantine II	Princess Irene	Sister	6 March 1964 Brother became king	10 July 1965 Daughter born to king	Prince Michael, 1964–1965, first cousin once removed
	Princess Irene	Sister	6 March 1964 Brother became king	10 July 1965 Daughter born to king	None, 1965
	Princess Alexia	Daughter	10 July 1965 Born	20 May 1967 Son born to king	Princess Irene, aunt
	Crown Prince Pavlos	Son	20 May 1967 Born	1 June 1973 Monarchy abolished, confirmed by 1973 and 1974 referenda	Princess Alexia, 1967–1969, sister
	Crown Prince Pavlos	Son	20 May 1967 Born		Prince Nikolaos, 1969–1973, brother

^ On 11 June 1917, King Constantine I was deposed from the throne, and his second son, Prince Alexander was selected by the Allies of World War I to act as a puppet king, after the refusal of both Constantine I's eldest son (Crown Prince George) and brother (Prince George). Eventually all the members of the royal family went into exile, except for Alexander himself. King Alexander considered himself as merely a regent in the name of his father, as neither him or his elder brother had abdicated. On 25 October 1920, Alexander died of sepsis after being bit by a monkey on 2 October. Still unwilling to restore Constantine I to the throne, the government of Eleftherios Venizelos offered the crown to his third son (Prince Paul), receiving another refusal on the same grounds of loyalty to Constantine I. On 14 November, Venizelos was defeated in the 1920 Greek legislative election and the new government of Dimitrios Rallis asked Queen Dowager Olga (who was allowed to return to Greece as Alexander was dying) to assume the regency until Constantine I's restoration on 19 December, after a referendum.
^ In 1952, the law of succession was changed from agnatic primogeniture to male-preference primogeniture.
^ In 1962, Princess Sophia renounced her claim to the throne, in order to marry Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias.

References

[1] On 11 June 1917, King Constantine I was deposed from the throne, and his second son, Prince Alexander was selected by the Allies of World War I to act as a puppet king, after the refusal of both Constantine I's eldest son (Crown Prince George) and brother (Prince George). Eventually all the members of the royal family went into exile, except for Alexander himself. King Alexander considered himself as merely a regent in the name of his father, as neither him or his elder brother had abdicated. On 25 October 1920, Alexander died of sepsis after being bit by a monkey on 2 October. Still unwilling to restore Constantine I to the throne, the government of Eleftherios Venizelos offered the crown to his third son (Prince Paul), receiving another refusal on the same grounds of loyalty to Constantine I. On 14 November, Venizelos was defeated in the 1920 Greek legislative election and the new government of Dimitrios Rallis asked Queen Dowager Olga (who was allowed to return to Greece as Alexander was dying) to assume the regency until Constantine I's restoration on 19 December, after a referendum.

[2] In 1952, the law of succession was changed from agnatic primogeniture to male-preference primogeniture.

[3] In 1962, Princess Sophia renounced her claim to the throne, in order to marry Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias.

[a]

[b]

[c]

Heir to the throne (House of Wittelsbach)

Heir to the throne (House of Glücksburg)

See also

References