Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece has shared intimate details about her unique childhood relationship with her godfather, King Charles III, revealing ordinary moments that contrast sharply with her royal connections.
Childhood Memories with a Royal Godfather
The 29-year-old princess, known to friends as Olympia, recalled one particularly fond memory from when she was eleven years old. "I remember having bacon and scrambled eggs with him before he took me to see Shrek The Musical at the theatre," she revealed during a Zoom interview from her New York apartment.
What makes this seemingly normal childhood experience extraordinary is that the godfather in question was the then-Prince of Wales, and the breakfast was served at his Gloucestershire residence, Highgrove House. Olympia still visits him there occasionally, noting they discuss his passion for rewilding projects. "We talk about his rewilding, which I admire - but honestly, I don't know how to garden," she admitted.
While their contact has become less frequent with time, the princess cherishes the special bond they shared during her younger years. "We don't speak all the time, of course. But I used to see him a lot when I was younger, which was more special," she reflected.
The Modern Royal Without a Throne
Olympia holds a unique position in European royalty. As the eldest of five children and only daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, and Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, she was born on Corfu but has spent most of her life in London.
Her family relocated to the UK after her grandfather, King Constantine II, lost the Greek crown following the abolition of the monarchy in 1973. Interestingly, King Constantine was related to the late Prince Philip, who was also born on Corfu.
Despite their royal titles, the family holds no legal status or claim to the throne in the Hellenic Republic. "I have no royal duties, and we only just got our Greek passports this year!" Olympia revealed. "The family joke is that my dog, Eccho, got a passport before the rest of us."
Life Beyond the Tiara
Contrary to what some might expect, Olympia doesn't spend her days adorned in royal jewels. "I've borrowed couture jewellery for events. It's a novelty to have bodyguards follow you about for an evening. But I don't walk around in one of the Greek family tiaras," she clarified.
Her life reflects that of a modern socialite and professional. With 308,000 Instagram followers, her social media showcases her modelling work for luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari and Louis Vuitton. She also works as a contributing editor at online luxury fashion retailer Moda Operandi.
Recent highlights include Electra Niarchos's 30th birthday party in Scotland, which she described as "one of the best parties I have ever been to." The tartan punk-themed event featured family-style dining and non-stop dancing.
Olympia's fashion sense comes from her mother, Marie-Chantal, whose archived designer pieces she recently discovered. "For my whole childhood, I slept underneath a designer wardrobe of Valentino dresses and black-tie gowns! Now I borrow them for events," she shared.
As for the family's actual crown jewels? "I don't know. Maybe you'll eventually find them in my walls," she quipped, referencing Bunny Mellon's practice of hiding jewellery in her home's foundations.
