At a Glance
- Princess Irene of Greece passed away at 83 on January 15, 2026, at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid
- She was the younger sister of Queen Sofia of Spain and the late King Constantine, Greece’s last monarch
- Irene lived in Spain, obtained citizenship in 2018, and had reportedly faced cognitive decline
- Why it matters: Her death marks the end of a direct link to Greece’s monarchy and highlights the close ties within Europe’s ex-royal families
Princess Irene of Greece has died at age 83 inside Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, the Greek royal family announced on January 15, 2026. The lifelong pianist and philanthropist spent her final years in Spain alongside her sister, Queen Sofia, whose royal duties were recently curtailed to stay by Irene’s side.
Final Moments and Family Statement
The Greek royal family’s private office released a brief statement confirming the death:
> “It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones. Details will follow regarding the funeral procession.”
No cause was given, though reports in Spanish media had noted a worsening cognitive decline over recent years.
Early Life in Exile and Return to Greece
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 11, 1942, Irene came into the world while the Greek royal family lived in exile after Nazi forces occupied Athens. Her father, King Paul I, and mother, Queen Frederica, fled with their children-future King Constantine, future Queen Sofia, and the infant Irene-to safety abroad.
The family returned to Greece in 1946 after a referendum restored the monarchy under King George II, Irene’s uncle. She grew up between Athens and the royal estate at Tatoi, developing twin passions for music and archaeology that would define her adult life.
A Life Devoted to Music and Charity
Irene trained as a concert pianist and performed publicly into middle age. She shared her sister Sofia’s enthusiasm for classical culture, traveling extensively to study Hindu philosophy and music theory.
In 1986 she founded Music in Harmony, an NGO supporting music education for underprivileged children. She later donated her entire inheritance to the organization, telling Hola! magazine:
> “Music is the universal language that can unite people beyond borders or politics.”
Never-Married Royal and Spanish Citizenship
Unlike many European royals of her generation, Irene never married. She maintained a close relationship with Queen Sofia, frequently visiting Madrid and eventually settling into an apartment inside Zarzuela Palace, the Spanish royal residence.
She obtained Spanish nationality in 2018, formalizing decades of residency and cementing her place within the Spanish royal household.
Last Public Appearances
Irene’s final public outing came in February 2025 at the Athens wedding of Prince Nikolaos-her nephew and godson-to Chrysi Vardinogiánni. Photographs showed her arriving on the arm of Queen Sofia, both women dressed in navy and smiling for cameras.
Weeks later Spanish outlets reported that Queen Sofia, 87, had canceled her traditional early-spring engagements on Mallorca to remain near her sister as her health faltered.
Surviving Family and Legacy
Princess Irene is survived by:
- Queen Sofia of Spain, her elder sister
- King Felipe VI of Spain, nephew
- Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, nephew
- Princess Alexia, niece
- Prince Nikolaos, nephew and godson
- Princess Theodora, niece
- Prince Philippos, nephew
Friends describe her as fiercely private yet quick-witted, with an encyclopedic knowledge of Byzantine history and a talent for improvising Chopin nocturnes at the piano.
Funeral arrangements remained under discussion late Wednesday, with the family expected to hold a private service in Madrid followed by burial in the Greek royal plot at Tatoi, north of Athens.
Key Takeaways
- Princess Irene’s death severs one of the last living links to Greece’s monarchy, abolished in 1973
- Her artistic and humanitarian work left a modest but meaningful legacy in European cultural circles
- The close bond between Irene and Queen Sofia underscores how ex-royal families continue to intertwine across borders decades after losing thrones
