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Constantine of Greece, formerly Constantine II, King of the Hellenes (born June 2, 1940) was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy by the Greek military junta on June 1, 1973.During the Metapolitefsi, the transitional period following the fall of the Junta, the matter of his restoration to the throne was set on the Greek plebiscite, 1974 (December 13, 1974) and the results confirmed his deposition. The plebiscite was held while the King was in exile and at a time of great turmoil, due to the Turkish Invasion in Cyprus. However the King never questioned the outcome and asked its supporters to respect the outcome. (30% of the population vote in favour of the restoration of the throne)
His title in Greek was Konstantinos II, Vasileus ton Ellinon. He has lived in exile since 1967. Also called by supporters as King Konstantinos XIII, extending the line succession of the Byzantine empire, from the last Byzantine emperor Constantine XI.
Constantine was born at Psychiko, near Athens, the nephew of King George II and eldest son of the king's brother and heir, Prince Paul. His mother was a German princess, Frederika of Hanover. He was one year old when the Germans invaded Greece and he spent the next four years in exile in Egypt and Cape Town with his family. Returning to Greece in 1945, he was educated at a preparatory school and then attended military academies. When King George died in 1947 his father became king and he became heir to the throne.
As a young man Constantine had an interest in sports. In 1960, at the age of 20 he competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, winning a gold medal in sailing (Dragon Class). In 1964 he married a Danish princess, his third cousin Anne-Marie of Denmark, sister of the current Danish Queen, Margrethe II. His sister, Sofia, is married to King Juan Carlos of Spain. He has another younger sister, Irene.
Titles
* His Royal Highness Prince Constantine of Greece and Denmark (1940-1947)
* His Royal Highness Crown Prince Constantine of Greece, Prince of Denmark (1947-1964)
* His Majesty Constantine II, King of the Hellenes, Prince of Denmark (1964-1974)
* His Majesty King Constantine of Greece, Prince of Denmark (since 1974)
* King Constantine (Used by Constantine in Greece since 2003)References
Wikipedia
Official Web Site of the former royal family
Woodhouse – Modern Greece a Short History