Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark

Princess Maria-Olympia
Olympia in 2019
Born (1996-07-25) 25 July 1996 (age 28)
Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, U.S.
HouseGlücksburg
FatherPavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
MotherMarie-Chantal Miller
OccupationModel, socialite
Greek royal family

The Dowager Queen

Marina, consort of Prince Michael

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark (Greek: Μαρία Ολυμπία Ντε Γκρες, romanized: Maria-Olympia de Grèce; born 25 July 1996) is a fashion model, socialite and member of the former Greek royal family. She is the oldest child and only daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, and his wife, Marie-Chantal Miller. Her paternal grandparents are Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark, who were the last King and Queen of the Hellenes, while her maternal grandfather is duty free entrepreneur Robert Warren Miller.

Early life

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark was born on 25 July 1996 at Weill Cornell Medical Center in Lenox Hill, New York in Manhattan to Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, and his wife, Marie-Chantal. She was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church by Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at the Church of St. George in Istanbul, Turkey, on 22 December 1996.[1][2] Her godparents are her paternal aunt Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, her maternal aunt Pia Getty, her grandfather's second cousin Charles III, and Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark. Her family relocated to London, where she spent most of her childhood. She is the older sister of Prince Constantine-Alexios, Prince Achileas-Andreas, Prince Odysseas Kimon, and Prince Aristidis-Stavros.[3]

She uses the name Olympia in everyday life.[4][5][6] Olympia attended her first couture show around the age of 11 in Rome together with her parents.[7] She studied art history, theatre, photography, and graphic design while in boarding school in Switzerland with hopes of pursuing a career in art or fashion.[8] She interned in Dior's couture department, at the age of 17.[9]

Maria-Olympia registered at college in New York in the fall of 2015.[10][6] In 2016, she studied photography at Parsons School of Design in New York.[11] In 2019, she completed her studies with a degree in Fashion Business and Marketing from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.[7][5]

She is dyslexic.[12]

Fashion career

Olympia with camera, in 2019

In April 2016, Maria-Olympia posed alongside two of her first cousins, Isabel Getty and Princess Talita von Fürstenberg in a Vanity Fair feature.[13]

She has modeled for Teen Vogue,[14] Town & Country,[15] Tatler, Hello!,[16] ¡Hola!,[17] and W.[18][19] In June 2017, Maria-Olympia walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana.[20] She has also modeled for Michael Kors.[21]

Using her name Olympia the Saks Potts S/S 2019 show during Copenhagen Fashion Week in August 2018 was named OLYMPIA after her and opened by the princess herself as the first model on the stage.[4][22]

She became the face for Pretty Ballerinas's Spring/Summer 2019 collection.[23]

Personal life

It was reported in May 2016 that Maria-Olympia was romantically involved with her godfather's son and third cousin once removed Prince Harry, but a representative of the British Royal Family denied the rumors.[24] In 2021, she began a relationship with The Hon. Peregrine Pearson, the son and heir of Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray,[25] but in September 2023 it was reported that the relationship had ended.[26]

On September 28, 2024, she served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark and Matthew Kumar at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.[27]

Οn 20 December 2024, Maria-Olympia along with other members of the former royal family acquired Greek citizenship, under the surname de Grece.[28]

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ "PRINCESS MARIA-OLYMPIA". Greek Royal Family (in Greek). The Greek Royal Family. Archived from the original on 5 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  2. ^ "Leading world aristocrats in Istanbul". 24 December 1996. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece: 10 Facts About The Stylish Teen Royal". Hello Fashion. HELLO!. 19 January 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b Nikita Hoffmann Andersen (28 August 2018). "Prinsesse Maria-Olympia. Hvem er Danmarks ukendte prinsesse?" (in Danish). Elle Danmark. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Brittani Barger (24 May 2019). "Princess Olympia of Greece and Denmark graduates from NYU". Royal Central. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  6. ^ a b Marina Pina (9 September 2015). "La privilegiada y cara vida estudiantil de Olimpia de Grecia" (in Spanish). El Mundo. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b Naomi Pike (11 July 2020). "Princess Olympia Of Greece On The Magic Of Couture". Vogue. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. ^ Lotte Scharff (24 September 2014). "Hun bliver den nye jetset-prinsesse" (in Danish). Århus Stiftstidende. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  9. ^ Lewis, Victoria (30 October 2014). "The Princess Diaries: Marie-Olympia of Greece Gives Us the Lowdown on Being 21st-Century Royalty". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 20 August 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  10. ^ Leah Melby Clinton (28 August 2015). "Yes, Even a Princess Shops at Bed Bath & Beyond for College Dorm Stuff". Glamour. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. ^ "The Miller Cousins Are the Ultimate Society Darlings for the Social-Media Age". Vanity Fair. 24 April 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. ^ Sinha, Barnali Pal (21 January 2016). "Prince Harry Not Dating Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece: Royal Source". International Business Times. IBT Media Inc. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  13. ^ "The Miller Cousins Are the Ultimate Society Darlings for the Social-Media Age". Vanity Fair. 30 March 2016. Archived from the original on 20 July 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  14. ^ Lewis, Victoria (30 October 2014). "The Princess Diaries: Marie-Olympia of Greece Gives Us the Lowdown on Being 21st-Century Royalty". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  15. ^ "T&C Modern Swan: Princess Olympia of Greece". 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Princess Maria-Olympia: Meet the new royal it-girl". Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Maria Olympia, Princess Maria-Olympia, Hola! Fashion Magazine February 2016 Cover Photo - Spain". Archived from the original on 25 February 2017.
  18. ^ Lawrence, Vanessa (April 2013). "It Girl: Princess Maria-Olympia". W. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  19. ^ Garvey, Marianne; Niemietz, Brian; Coleman, Oli; Maresca, Rachel (25 August 2015). "Budding style icon Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece will reign as an NYU student this fall". NY Daily News. NYDailyNews.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  20. ^ "Princess Diana's Niece Just Walked the Dolce & Gabbana Runway". 26 February 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  21. ^ Bryant, Kenzie (31 August 2016). "This Princess Has Style as Enviable as Kate Middleton's". VanityFair.com. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Galleri: Saks Potts med pels i Collection 10" (in Danish). Kopenhagen Fur. August 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  23. ^ Bryant, Kenzie (2 February 2019). "This Princess has just launched a gorgeous shoe collection – and you will want everything". Hello!. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  24. ^ Chung, Madelyn (21 January 2016). "Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece Is Our New Favourite Style Icon". The Huffington Post Canada. TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  25. ^ Princess Olympia of Greece on Prince Charles: ‘He always remembered my birthday’, The Telegraph, 5 June 2021
  26. ^ "Princess Maria-Olympia, goddaughter of King Charles, faces heartbreak", Geo News, 17 September 2023, accessed 22 September 2023
  27. ^ Henni, Janine (28 September 2024). "Princess Theodora of Greece Weds American Fiancé Matthew Kumar in Twice-Postponed Royal Wedding". People. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  28. ^ "Former Greek Royal Family Members Apply for Citizenship, Opt for Surname 'De Grece'". To Vima. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Some ancestry of the Miller sisters".
  30. ^ Aanmoen, Oskar (20 May 2020). "The prince born to rule who has lived his life in exile". Royal Central.
  31. ^ "How three '90s 'It Girl' sisters married into royal families and unbelivable wealth". honey.nine.com.au. 3 April 2021.