- - Queen Sofia of Spain's Sister, Princess Irene of Greece, Dies at 83

Janine HenniJanuary 15, 2026 at 9:46 PM

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Queen Sofia of Spain and Princess Irene of Greece attend a private dinner to celebrate the golden wedding anniversary of King Constantine and Queen Anne Marie on Sept. 18, 2024 in Athens, Greece -

Princess Irene of Greece has died at age 83 at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid

Her death was announced in a statement from by the Greek royal family on Jan. 15

Queen Sofia's sister had reportedly been experiencing cognitive decline in recent years

Princess Irene of Greece has died at age 83.

Princess Irene was the younger sister of the late King Constantine, the last King of Greece, and Queen Sofia of Spain, who survives her.

Irene's death was announced by the Greek royal family's private office on Jan. 15.

"It is with deep sadness that the Greek Royal Family announces that HRH Princess Irene, beloved sister and aunt, passed away on Thursday, January 15th 2026, at 11:40 local time, in Zarzuela Palace in Madrid surrounded by loved ones," the statement said. "Details will follow regarding the funeral procession."

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Princess Irene of Greece in 1966.

Princess Irene was born to King Paul I and Queen Frederica in South Africa on May 11, 1942. She arrived after her family fled Athens after the Nazis invaded Greece, according to her brother's biography.

Irene's family returned to Greece after the 1946 referendum restored her uncle, King George II, to the throne.

She was a concert pianist, shared a passion for archaeology with her sister Sofia, studied Hindu culture and donated her inheritance to Music in Harmony, the NGO she founded in 1986, Hola! reported.

Princess Irene never married and shared a close relationship with Sofia, who became the future queen consort of Spain when she wed the future King Juan Carlos in 1962.

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Former Spanish King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and Princess Irene at King Constantine's funeral in Athens on Jan. 16, 2023.

Irene also shared a strong bond with her nieces and nephews (her family tree includes King Felipe of Spain and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece), and she lived in an apartment at Zarzuela Palace in the later years of her life, Hello! magazine reported. She obtained Spanish nationality in 2018.

Princess Irene had reportedly been experiencing cognitive decline in recent years, and her last public appearance was at the wedding of her nephew and godson, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, to Chrysi Vardinogiánni in February 2025.

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Princess Irene and Queen Sofia arrive to attend Prince Nikolaos' wedding in Athens on Feb. 7, 2025.

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The announcement of Princess Irene's death followed the news that Queen Sofia, 87, canceled her royal appearances in Palma de Mallorca to be by her sister's side as her health declined, Hello! said.

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