Former prince Pavlos seeks citizenship

Pavlos, the son of former Greek King Constantine, is reportedly making steps toward regaining Greek citizenship, though a key legal obstacle remains: the issue of a last name.

Under Greek law, those wishing to regain citizenship must provide a surname. However, members of the former royal family, including Pavlos, have never had an official surname.

Greek Interior Ministry officials, including Secretary-General Athanasios Balermpas, clarified that while the royal family members were stripped of their titles after the monarchy’s abolition in 1974, they did not lose their citizenship rights.

They can reapply under the 1994 legislation of Evangelos Venizelos, as long as they declare their intention to accept Greece’s republican constitution and renounce any claims to a royal title. Pavlos would need to appear before an Athens registrar and submit a formal declaration of allegiance to the republic and the Greek Constitution.

He could then choose any surname for official records. Minister Makis Voridis also confirmed that the process remains unchanged since 1994. Once completed, Pavlos would regain his status as a Greek citizen and be eligible for a passport.

Kathimerini