Constantine II of the Hellenes

Greek Monarch. The last King of Greece who reigned from March 6, 1964, until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on June 1, 1973. His title was formally and officially King of the Hellenes. He was the only son of King Paul of Greece and his Queen Consort, the former Princess Frederica of Hanover. His parents were both descendants of Queen Victoria and his mother was a granddaughter of German Kaiser Wilhelm II while his sister, Sofía, would become the wife and Queen Consort of King Juan Carlos of Spain. Part of his childhood was spent in Africa during World War II, following the German invasion and occupation of Greece. Following the return of the Greek royal family to Greece following the end of World War II, his father succeeded to the throne in 1947 and Constantine became Crown Prince. He won an Olympic gold medal in sailing in 1960 and in 1963 became a member of the International Olympic Committee, serving until his resignation in 1974, after which he was made an honorary member. He succeeded to the throne following the death of his father in 1964 and several months later was married to his cousin, Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, with whom he had five children. His reign was marred by political turmoil, culminating in the abolition of the Greek monarchy on June 1, 1973. Following the abolition of the monarchy, he and his family removed to the United Kingdom and resided in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London. The former king and his wife returned to Greece in 2013 and he resided there for the remainder of his life. He died in Athens after suffering a stroke.