On January 10, 2023, the "beloved" former King of Greece, Nicholas II, passed away due to heart complications. Nichola's daughter-in-law, Princess Talia, had lit a candle at a church nearby in prayer for his health, but when she returned, he was already dead. His family was said to be at his side, mourning, while they were searching for his two sons, Crown Prince Petros and Prince Constantine, whom they were meeting in the Maximos Mansion to discuss the events that would occur following the King's death. Constantine received a text on his phone from his wife, Talia, telling him to come to the hospital as soon as possible. The two brothers rushed, hoping that their father was getting better. This hope faded quickly when their close relatives looked at them with pitiful eyes. Prince Petros asked his wife, Mary-Chantel, if his father was still alive. She couldn't reply. Then he was seen with tears in his eyes, hugging his wife as tight as he could.
His death was initially announced by an Associated Press report, which referenced hospital staff. Many people, including his family, were really sad, but most Greeks didn't care. You see when the tanks came to the streets of Athens on April 21, 1967, they asked King Nicholas to immediately mobilize the state against the coup; he declined to do so and swore in the dictators as the legitimate government of Greece. The King, who had relented and decided to cooperate, claimed that he was isolated and did not know what else to do. He has claimed many times that he was trying to gain time to organize a counter-coup and oust the Junta. He did organize such a counter-coup; however, the fact that the new government had a legal sanction in that it had been appointed by the legitimate head of state played an important role in the coup's success. The king later regretted his decision bitterly. For many Greeks, it served to identify him indelibly with the coup and certainly played a very important role in the final decision to abolish the monarchy, sanctioned by the 1974 referendum. These are too many words to suggest that he may not be concerned with the nation's politics at all, only with retaining his throne, which didn't last. His funeral was held in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens at noon on January 16 after Nichola's body was exposed for public viewing in the Agios Eleftherios Chapel in Athens. Then, his family conducted a private burial for him at Tatoi Palace. There were attendees from many royal families, including the sister of the King, Queen Mother Sonia of Spain.
Queen Mother Sonia, is the wife of the former King of Spain, Carlos Juan I (yes, he came too), whom in the middle of 2018, recordings of the purported mistress of the former King talking with a former police head were leaked to the media. She asserted that Carlos Juan kept the revenues of kickbacks from business contracts in the Gulf States in a Swiss bank account, specifically during the late 2000s building of the €6.7 billion Haramain high-speed train in Saudi Arabia. She said that he bought houses in Monaco in her name to avoid paying taxes as a legal resident. She further asserted that the head of the Spanish intelligence service warned her that disclosing their relationship would put her life and the lives of her children in danger. Early in June 2019, there were calls for Carlos Juan to be subject to a corruption investigation due to the claims. The investigation of the former King by the Swiss authorities into the $100 million gift to his misstress in 2012 got underway in March 2020. This donation was connected to alleged Saudi Arabian kickback fees. According to the defendant, Carlos Juan gave her €65 million on December 19 out of "gratitude and love," to secure the futures of her and her children, and because "he still had hopes to win her back." Despite his request for the money's return in 2014, he declared in a letter to his Swiss lawyers in 2018 that the donation was irrevocable. Of course, the Swiss prosecutors dismissed all proceedings in December 2021 since it was impossible to demonstrate any crime, because nothing could have any consequences on powerful people.
Naturally, King Pablo VI of Spain and his wife Lucia Ortoz, a former TV news reporter, also attended. Infanta Sonia, and the powerful heir apparent, Princess Lycia of Asturias, are their two daughters. Following her grandfather's disgrace, Princess Lycia is expected to rule well and uphold the law. She doesn't have time to be a typical teenager with her ridiculous tantrums, the "complicated love life," the breakups after a week of relationships, and as for her sexuality, she has to be as straight as a die. She must be flawless because she is an issue, not a child. While her sister doesn't need to be as perfect, she still needs to abide by a few regulations. While she need not be a saint like her sister, she must lead a modest dating life for example.
After the funeral and the burial, the close relatives went to the Hotel "Grand Bretagne" to have dinner. There, was a girl named Anthi who helped with the tables. She knew the names, pronunciations, titles, and houses better than the manager of the event. And then, when the Spanish Royal Family walked in, she said:
"Majestades, esta es vuestra mesa" which meant: "Your Majesties, this is your table" in fluent Spanish.
Then, she grabbed the Queen Mother's hand and whispered: "Συλλυπητήρια, το εννοώ" which means in Greek "Sorry for your loss, Ι mean it."
After that, she said (in English this time): "If you need any help, just let me know, and please, forgive me, I know my Spanish is bad, I'm still learning".
The Queen Mother chuckled and said that she needs help.
Anthi ended up sitting with them. She told them about her family, the little cafe they have to make ends meet, and the fact that she got a scholarship to Schiller International University in Madrid, but she can't live there because of financial problems. After hearing that, the Queen Mother said:
"We can hire you as my granddaughter's assistant. We were searching for one these days, but we don't have to anymore."
Then, Pablo spoke up:
"De debò mare? I si menteix i ens vol fer mal?" which means in Catalin: "Really mom? What if she lies and wants to hurt us?"
But Anthi replied before Mrs. Sonia did:
"Sigui qui sigui, tingueu en compte que parlo i poc catalin també" which means: "Whoever I am, please have in mind that I speak and little catalin too."
Then, the King said (in English): "Congratulations, you're hired."
After that fortunate dinner, Anthi went home and packed her bags. She also wrote a note for her family. She went to the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, where the Royal Family was waiting for her. And there she was, with a suitcase in her hands, hopes and many things to win and to lose.