Princess Irene drew her last breath today, Thursday (15/1), at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, where she had spent her final years, bringing sorrow to family members and all who knew her.
Read: Princess Irene: Spanish palace announces her death at age 83 (Photos)
Particular emotion and awe is caused by the tragic coincidence that at the exact same time, at Tatoi, relatives and close friends were holding the three-year memorial service for former King Constantine. Princess Irene had been throughout her life the most stable and devoted support for her brother. From their childhood years at the palace to the difficult periods of exile, the two remained inseparable, bound by a special bond.
A woman of intense spirituality and deep love for music, Irene was the person Constantine trusted with his thoughts and feelings, away from publicity and the spotlight of current events.
The first concerning signs
Her last public appearance in Athens, at the former king’s funeral in January 2023, had caused intense emotion but also concern. As became known later, Princess Irene appeared disoriented, had difficulty recognizing faces, and her behavior showed signs of cognitive decline.
According to sources, the intense psychological burden from her brother’s loss may have accelerated the progression of her illness. The image of her being supported by Queen Sofia and her nephews confirmed that the “baby” of the family now needed continuous care and protection.
Princess Irene: Final years in Madrid and Sofia’s devotion
Princess Irene spent her final years in Madrid, under the discreet but absolute care of her sister, Queen Sofia. The two daughters of Paul and Frederica maintained a lifelong bond, with Sofia standing by Irene until the end.
Sofia had made it her personal priority to be by the side of her 83-year-old sister daily at the Zarzuela Palace, refusing to leave her alone in the battle against cognitive decline.
Her death, on the day of Constantine’s memorial service, seems to many like a symbolic and almost “metaphysical” epilogue. As if she chose this moment to meet her beloved brother again.
Princess Irene’s funeral service is expected to gather members of royal families from across Europe, honoring a woman who lived away from publicity but left behind a deep imprint of love and devotion.
