Friday, December 19, 2008

Athens in a frenzy as king returns

December 20, 1920

King Constantine arrived today in Athens just before noon, and received a tumultuous welcome. Great crowds waited for hours for the king's return to his capital "after a long exile." The people "seemed delirious with joy." Queen Mother Olga and Princess Anastasia, wearing chinchilla furs and matching hats, were standing in the royal group at the railroad station as Constantine's train steamed into Athens. The festivities were like Christmas eve celebrations and Athenians were seen to be waving olive branches and other symbols of peace.
At the Thanksgiving service to celebrate the King's return, Queen Sophie, overcome with emotion, actually fainted toward the end of the service, and was carried out by her husband and eldest son.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

For a moment I thought that this is now 20 Dec.2008 A.D.!
You never know,History might be repeated today! With King Constantine II his grandson.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Sadly, unlikely. There is no support for the monarchy in Greece, and the king knows this.