Princess Irene of Greece, who is the sister of Queen Sofia of Spain, has passed away at the age of 83, the Greek Royal Family Announced.
“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.”
HOLA! reports that Queen Sofia “postponed all her engagements” this past week to be by Princess Irene’s side, with her health having declined in recent years. She was also “living with cognitive deterioration for years.”
Her final public appearance was at the wedding of her nephew and godson, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, to Chrysi Vardinogiánni in February 2025, PEOPLE adds.
Princess Irene’s Legacy
Princess Irene was the daughter of, King Paul I and Queen Frederica, having been born in South Africa on May 11, 1942, after her family left Greece due to the Nazi invasion.
They returned to Greece in 1946. However, when her father, King Paul, passed away when Princess Irene was 22 years old, her brother took over, but there was a lot of turmoil that ultimately forced her family to leave the country again. Princess Irene ultimately settled in India with her mother. But after her mother passed, she moved to Spain to be with her sister.
She was a very talented pianist, having played from a young age and been trained by the renowned musician Gina Bachauer. She was never married or had any children. She was also very involved in philanthropic efforts.
According to HOLA!, Princess Irene was also diagnosed with cancer in 2002. And then in recent years, she “suffered cognitive decline, which made her inseparable sister even more attentive to her care and medical appointments.”
Princess Irene Remembered As ‘Quiet, Unconventional, and Interesting’
GettyIn her biography on the Green Royal Family’s website, Princess Irene is described as “quiet, unconventional, and interesting, with a spiritual and humorous side.”
She “dedicated her life to music, describing it as ‘one of the faces of God,’ as well as to charity and the relief of human suffering.” And with that, she earned the title of “Irene, the princess of the poor,” due to her charity and social work.
” “The purpose is not to save the world, but to offer it a little relief, a little hope, a little harmony where there is suffering,” she used to say, according to the website.
