Princess Alexandra of Greece (born 1968)

1.1. Birth and family

Princess Alexandra was born on 15 October 1968, in Athens, Greece. She is the elder daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, who is a notable historian, and the artist Marina Karella. She has one younger sister, Princess Olga of Savoy-Aosta. Her paternal great-grandparents were George I of Greece and Olga Constantinovna of Russia. She is also a great-granddaughter of Prince Jean, Duke of Guise and a great-great-granddaughter of Christian IX of Denmark.

1.2. Royal status and lineage

Princess Alexandra holds the title of Princess of Greece. However, due to the morganatic marriage of her parents, her status differs from other members of the Greek royal family. A morganatic marriage is considered non-dynastic, meaning that while she is a Greek princess by birth, she is not also a Danish princess. Consequently, she is entitled to the style Her Highness rather than the higher Royal Highness, which is typically used by other members of the Greek royal family. This familial arrangement also led to her exclusion from the line of succession to the former Greek throne.

She is a second cousin to Constantine II of Greece, who reigned as King of the Hellenes. The Greek monarchy was abolished on 29 July 1973, when King Constantine II was deposed following the 1973 Greek republic referendum.

3.1. Child life specialist

Princess Alexandra is a certified child life specialist. In this role, she works to help children and families cope with stress and uncertainty related to illness, injury, and trauma.

3.2. Artistic career

Princess Alexandra works as a painter and portraitist. Her artistic inspirations include prominent figures such as Melina Mercouri, Rita Wilson, and the artists Niki de Saint Phalle, Willem Claesz. Heda, and Rembrandt. She has actively utilized her artistic talents for charitable causes, painting portraits of National Health Service members in 2020 as part of a fundraising initiative. In 2022, she contributed by selling paintings to benefit organizations providing visual aids.

3.3. Arts patronage and collection

Princess Alexandra and her husband are active patrons within the New York art scene. She is also a notable art collector. Her collection includes a portrait of her grandfather, Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark, which was painted by Philip de László in 1919.

4.1. Marriage and children

Princess Alexandra married the perfumer Nicolas Mirzayantz on 27 June 1998, in Torcello, Italy. Nicolas Mirzayantz serves as the vice president of global business development for International Flavors & Fragrances. The couple has two sons: Tigran, born in 2000, and Darius, born in April 2002.

4.2. Social engagements

Princess Alexandra is an active participant in the New York social scene. Her presence in the social circles has been recognized, leading to her induction into the International Best Dressed Hall of Fame List in 2007. On 1 August 2024, she attended the funeral of her father, Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, in Athens, where she was seen alongside other members of the Greek royal family, including her sister Princess Olga of Savoy-Aosta, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Queen Sofía of Spain, and Crown Prince Pavlos.