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Greek royal family faces potential renaming due to Herber's setback?
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The Greek royal family, who regained their citizenship about half a year ago, face the potential loss of it once again due to a legal lawsuit.
Athen - The House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg left Greece decades ago without a passport, living in exile. However, in late 2024, they were naturalized in their homeland and took on the surname "de Grèce."
Legal Battle Threatens Greek Royal Family's Citizenship
Despite the joy surrounding their new name, the Greek royals, including Prince Pavlos (58), find themselves in a precarious position. Just six months post adoption, a lawsuit could strip them of the citizenship they fought so hard to reclaim. This legal hurdle comes from Panagiotis Lazaratos, a law professor at the University of Athens.
According to the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Professor Lazaratos argues that acknowledging their name and citizenship fosters unwarranted differences among Greek citizens, challenging democratic principles. He believes the principle of popular sovereignty is violated, as the right to vote assumes lawful acquisition of citizenship, which, in this case, is questionable. Furthermore, he contends that the former royals should not bear a name associated with their past rule.
Supreme Administrative Court to Decide: Legal or Illegitimate?
Lazaratos cites Article 4, Paragraph 7 of the Greek constitution, which forbids titles of nobility or honorific titles that could suggest superiority or the possible revival of monarchical aspirations. The provision aims to safeguard popular sovereignty, ensuring the deposed king and his descendants cannot disrupt the democratic order, asserts Lazaratos[1]. The monarchy was officially abolished in Greece in 1974, leaving the royal family stateless and in exile.
According to Professor Lazaratos, he finds the surname "De Grèce" problematic as it symbolizes the former authority of the royal family. He maintains this name is incompatible with Greece’s political system[2]. The lawsuit was filed with the Supreme Administrative Court of Greece.
Greek Prince Nikolaos (55) left everyone surprised with his engagement earlier this year.
Sources: ekathimerini.com, greekcitytimes.com
Fascinating Facts
- The European Court of Human Rights previously addressed legal matters concerning the Greek royal family, such as Constantine II's lawsuit against Greece for seized property[5].
[1] The Greek Council of State is set to rule on this matter, as the former royal family's use of the surname "De Grèce" has been contested in a legal challenge
[2] The name "De Grèce" symbolizes the former authority of the royal family, according to the university professor
[5] The European Court of Human Rights has previously addressed other legal issues related to the Greek royal family
In the midst of a legal battle, Greek Prince Pavlos and his family risk losing their recently reclaimed citizenship due to a lawsuit started by law professor Panagiotis Lazaratos from the University of Athens. The controversy centers around the use of the name "De Grèce," which Professor Lazaratos believes symbolizes the royal family's former authority and is problematic in Greece's political system.
Furthermore, the engagement of Greek Prince Nikolaos (55) has kept entertainment news buzzing this year, providing a welcome distraction from the unfolding legal drama affecting the Greek royal family.
