The Decentralized Administration of the Peloponnese, responsible for overseeing regional and municipal governance, has started an investigation into an incident where the mayor of eastern Mani, Petros Andreakos, publicly referred to a member of the former Greek royal family as “prince.”
During an event commemorating the liberation of Mani from Ottoman rule on Monday, Mayor Andreakos addressed Pavlos De Grece, the eldest son of the deposed King Constantine, with the title “prince.” King Constantine was removed from the throne following a referendum in 1974.
Mayor Andreakos stated, “As we are among Greeks only, we have the right to believe whatever we want. However, I believe that titles do not die and that they follow a person throughout his life. So, I welcome Prince Pavlos.”
Following the event, Deputy Interior Minister Vasilis Spanakis spoke on Real FM, confirming that the process had been initiated by the decentralized authority’s secretary-general.
Spanakis emphasized that the Greek Constitution does not recognize titles of nobility and distinctions, stating that “all local government, all citizens, have an obligation to implement the Constitution and the laws” of Greece.
When questioned about potential sanctions, Spanakis indicated that “the appropriate procedures will be implemented.”
In December of last year, ten former royal family members were reinstated as Greek citizens after they formally recognized the republic and adopted the surname De Grece, which translates to “of Greece” in French.