It is with great sadness that we announce that the prince has passed away suddenly tonight…

The only child of Prince Christopher and Princess Francoise d’Orleans of France, Prince Michael faced early losses with his father passing away at 51 in 1940 and his mother in 1953, leaving him orphaned at 14. He studied political science in Paris and later returned to Greece for military service in the Hellenic Coast Guard, which helped him regain Greek citizenship.

Prince Michael remained in Greece during a turbulent period in 1967 when the government was overthrown by a right-wing military coup, following his nephew King Constantine’s failed attempt to challenge the junta.