Greece’s former royal family is back in the news. According to reports, some 10 relatives of the late King Constantine have applied for citizenship and the right to once again call Greece their home. Except their are a few problems at least for now.
The Lowdown
According to The Guardian, at least 10 members of the country’s former royal family have moved to apply for citizenship decades after they were forced into exile. Historically, Greece ‘s royal family lost their status in a Dec 1974 referendum that abolished the monarchy entirely. Following abolishment, however, a dispute between the family and the Greek government over what was the royal estate led to their exile. In 1994 the family was formally stripped of their citizenship over the dispute, leaving the massive estate now state-owned.
Why some people are calling foul
The Guardian notes that the family for reasons that are unclear was granted the right to choose its surname. ‘De Grece’ (which means of Greece) in French is the surname of choice though like government officials have pointed out it in fact sounds like a partial name of a head of state rather than a surname.
Despite the surname, the family did sign a declaration acknowledging the republican style government that came to be after their removal as royal family.
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