HM KING CONSTANTINE     \n \n\nBorn: 2 June 1940 at Psychiko, Athens \nParents: Their Majesties King Paul and Queen Frederica of the Hellenes \nEducation: Anavryta High School, Athens\n3 Military Academies \nAthens University (Law)\n \nAccession: 6 March 1964 \nMarried: 18 September 1964, Athens,\nHRH Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark \nChildren: Alexia, b 10 July 1965\nPavlos, b 20 May 1967\nNikolaos, b 1 October 1969\nTheodora, b 9 June 1983\nPhilippos, b 26 April 1986\n \nInterests: Sailing - Olympic Gold Medallist 1960 (Dragon Class)\nPresident of Honour, International Sailing Federation\nHonorary Member of the International Olympic Committee\nPatron and Chairman of Round Square Association of Schools\nFounder The Hellenic College of London\n \n\n\n\n\nHM King Constantine, only son of King Paul I and Queen Frederica, was born on 2 June, 1940, at Villa Psychiko, Athens.\n\nSoon after his birth, the Royal Family left Athens and went to Crete where they were caught in the Nazi invasion. The family was under threat of capture by the German Army. So King George II instructed his brother Crown Prince Paul and his family to leave for Alexandria, while he stayed behind and fought throughout the Battle of Crete with the Greek, British, Australian and New Zealand Armies - eventually escaping across the mountains. \n\nFrom Alexandria, Prince Constantine's family moved to Capetown in South Africa, to live in the 'Grooteschuur House' of the South African Prime Minister, Jan Christian Smuts. King Constantine's first memories are of holding the hand of the South African leader and chasing a cow off a bed of tall flowers across the well-manicured lawns. \n\nHis younger sister, Princess Irene was born in South Africa on 11 May, 1942.\n\nThe Royal Family returned to Alexandria, where Constantine remembers talking fluent Arabic with those working for the family. \n\nAfter World War II, Greece was in turmoil. In 1946, after a General Election, a Referendum was held and King George II and the family returned. \n\nKing George II died in 1947 and Constantine's father, King Paul I, ascended the throne. As Crown Prince, Constantine attended the funeral of his Uncle King George II, holding his father's hand in the procession.\n\nFrom 1949, Crown Prince Constantine attended Anavryta High School in Athens - a school based on the educational principles of Professor Kurt Hahn and modelled on Hahn's own creation, Salem School in Germany (like Gordonstoun in Scotland). \n\nKing Constantine says that he loved the camaraderie of boarding school, and associating with other children - most of whom have become lifelong friends. His class (now bankers, businessmen, professors and doctors) meets for a reunion every year. He was good at sport (hockey, volleyball, high jump) and became Head Boy. He acted in school plays, and remembers playing Mark Anthony in Shakespeare's 'Julius Caesar' (he can still quote large sections of the play). \n\nDuring his time at the school, he had military training every weekend and, after school, attended the three military academies - the army, navy and air force. On his 18th birthday, as the only son of his parents, he took an oath of allegiance in each of the armed forces.\n\nIn 1960, he became the first Greek to win an Olympic Gold Medal since 1912. He achieved this in Sailing (Dragon Class) as helmsman on the 'Nereus' in the Bay of Naples. \n\nHis sister Sofia (now Queen of Spain) was a member of the substitute crew, but trained as intensively as her brother. On his return, he received a public welcome in Athens. \n\nIn 1960, Constantine went to Athens University to study Law. He also visited the USA to see military and industrial establishments. \n\nDuring these school years, he attended many State visits with King Paul and Queen Frederica - Italy, UK, West Germany, Lebanon, Ethiopia, India, Thailand. \n\nHe met World leaders, including President Tito of Yugoslavia - when he had an 