Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark

{{short description|Member of the non-reigning Greek royal family}}

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Maria-Olympia

| house = Glücksburg

| spouse =

| issue =

| image = Olympia of Greece, headshot.jpg

| caption = Olympia in 2019

| occupation = Model, socialite

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1996|7|25}}

| birth_place = Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, U.S.

| father = Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece

| mother = Marie-Chantal Miller

}}

Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark ({{langx|el|Μαρία Ολυμπία Ντε Γκρες|María-Olympía 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.{{cite web|title=PRINCESS MARIA-OLYMPIA|url=http://www.greekroyalfamily.gr/timeline/birth-of-princess-maria-olympia.html|website=Greek Royal Family|publisher=The Greek Royal Family|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705044528/http://greekroyalfamily.gr/timeline/birth-of-princess-maria-olympia.html|archive-date=5 July 2014 |language=el}}{{cite web|title=Leading world aristocrats in Istanbul|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/leading-world-aristocrats-in-istanbul.aspx?pageID=438&n=leading-world-aristocrats-in-istanbul-1996-12-24|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308104927/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/leading-world-aristocrats-in-istanbul.aspx?pageID=438&n=leading-world-aristocrats-in-istanbul-1996-12-24|archive-date=8 March 2016|language=en|date=24 December 1996}} 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.{{cite web|title=Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece: 10 Facts About The Stylish Teen Royal|url=http://fashion.hellomagazine.com/fashion-news/gallery/201601194408/princess-maria-olympia-greece-ten-facts/4/|website=Hello Fashion|date=19 January 2016|publisher=HELLO!|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430195300/http://fashion.hellomagazine.com/fashion-news/gallery/201601194408/princess-maria-olympia-greece-ten-facts/4/|archive-date=30 April 2016|page=4|language=en}}

She uses the name Olympia in everyday life.{{cite news|url=https://www.elle.dk/kultur/royale/hvem-er-danmarks-ukendte-prinsesse|title=Prinsesse Maria-Olympia. Hvem er Danmarks ukendte prinsesse?|publisher=Elle Danmark|date=28 August 2018|access-date=7 September 2020|author=Nikita Hoffmann Andersen|language=da}}{{cite news|url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/greece/princess-olympia-of-greece-and-denmark-graduates-from-nyu-125440/|title=Princess Olympia of Greece and Denmark graduates from NYU|publisher=Royal Central|date=24 May 2019|access-date=7 September 2020|author=Brittani Barger}}{{cite news|url=https://www.elmundo.es/loc/2015/09/09/55eec6cd268e3e5f508b4589.html|title=La privilegiada y cara vida estudiantil de Olimpia de Grecia|publisher=El Mundo|date=9 September 2015|access-date=8 September 2020|author=Marina Pina|language=es}} Olympia attended her first couture show around the age of 11 in Rome together with her parents.{{cite news|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/miss-vogue/article/princess-olympia-of-greece-couture|title=Princess Olympia Of Greece On The Magic Of Couture|publisher=Vogue|date=11 July 2020|access-date=7 September 2020|author=Naomi Pike}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://stiften.dk/artikel/hun-bliver-den-nye-jetset-prinsesse-2014-9-24|title=Hun bliver den nye jetset-prinsesse|publisher=Århus Stiftstidende|date=24 September 2014|access-date=8 September 2020|author=Lotte Scharff|language=da}} She interned in Dior's couture department, at the age of 17.{{cite web|last1=Lewis|first1=Victoria|title=The Princess Diaries: Marie-Olympia of Greece Gives Us the Lowdown on Being 21st-Century Royalty|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/princess-marie-olympia-of-greece-talks-being-royalty|website=Teen Vogue|date=30 October 2014|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820214442/http://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/princess-marie-olympia-of-greece-talks-being-royalty|archive-date=20 August 2015|language=en}}

Maria-Olympia registered at college in New York in the fall of 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/princess-olympia-college-nyu|title=Yes, Even a Princess Shops at Bed Bath & Beyond for College Dorm Stuff|publisher=Glamour|date=28 August 2015|access-date=8 September 2020|author=Leah Melby Clinton}} In 2016, she studied photography at Parsons School of Design in New York.{{cite magazine|title=The Miller Cousins Are the Ultimate Society Darlings for the Social-Media Age|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/miller-cousins-society-social-media/|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=15 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424021313/http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/miller-cousins-society-social-media|archive-date=24 April 2016|language=en|date=24 April 2016}} In 2019, she completed her studies with a degree in Fashion Business and Marketing from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

She is dyslexic.{{cite web|last1=Sinha|first1=Barnali Pal|title=Prince Harry Not Dating Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece: Royal Source|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prince-harry-not-dating-princess-maria-olympia-greece-royal-source-2274087|website=International Business Times|publisher=IBT Media Inc.|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122173008/http://www.ibtimes.com/prince-harry-not-dating-princess-maria-olympia-greece-royal-source-2274087|archive-date=22 January 2016|date=21 January 2016}}

Fashion career

File:Olympia of Greece with camera.jpg

In April 2016, Maria-Olympia posed alongside two of her first cousins, Isabel Getty and Princess Talita von Fürstenberg in a Vanity Fair feature.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/miller-cousins-society-social-media |title=The Miller Cousins Are the Ultimate Society Darlings for the Social-Media Age |website=Vanity Fair |date=30 March 2016 |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720054635/http://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/03/miller-cousins-society-social-media |archive-date=20 July 2017 |url-status=live }}

She has modeled for Teen Vogue,{{cite web |last1=Lewis |first1=Victoria |title=The Princess Diaries: Marie-Olympia of Greece Gives Us the Lowdown on Being 21st-Century Royalty |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/princess-marie-olympia-of-greece-talks-being-royalty |website=Teen Vogue |access-date=2020-08-26 |date=October 30, 2014}} Town & Country,{{cite web |date=8 August 2016 |title=T&C Modern Swan: Princess Olympia of Greece |url=http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a7267/princess-olympia-of-greece/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225212843/http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a7267/princess-olympia-of-greece/ |archive-date=25 February 2017 |df=dmy-all}} Tatler, Hello!,{{cite web|url=http://fashion.hellomagazine.com/fashion-news/201409252324/maria-olympia-of-greece-new-it-girl/|title=Princess Maria-Olympia: Meet the new royal it-girl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225211223/http://fashion.hellomagazine.com/fashion-news/201409252324/maria-olympia-of-greece-new-it-girl/|archive-date=25 February 2017|df=dmy-all|access-date=25 February 2017}} ¡Hola!,{{cite web|url=http://www.famousfix.com/topic/hola-fashion-magazine-spain-february-2016|title=Maria Olympia, Princess Maria-Olympia, Hola! Fashion Magazine February 2016 Cover Photo - Spain|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225205447/http://www.famousfix.com/topic/hola-fashion-magazine-spain-february-2016|archive-date=25 February 2017|df=dmy-all}} and W.{{cite web|last1=Lawrence|first1=Vanessa|title=It Girl: Princess Maria-Olympia|url=http://www.wmagazine.com/people/2013/04/princess-maria-olympia-greece-it-girl/|website=W|publisher=Condé Nast|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722145144/http://www.wmagazine.com/people/2013/04/princess-maria-olympia-greece-it-girl/|archive-date=22 July 2013|language=en|date=April 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Garvey|first1=Marianne|last2=Niemietz|first2=Brian|last3=Coleman|first3=Oli|last4=Maresca|first4=Rachel|title=Budding style icon Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece will reign as an NYU student this fall|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/nyu-rule-princess-maria-olympia-arrives-classes-article-1.2335743|website=NY Daily News|publisher=NYDailyNews.com|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826005024/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/nyu-rule-princess-maria-olympia-arrives-classes-article-1.2335743|archive-date=26 August 2015|language=en|date=25 August 2015}} In June 2017, Maria-Olympia walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana.{{cite web|url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/a18720347/kitty-spencer-royals-fashion-week/|title=Princess Diana's Niece Just Walked the Dolce & Gabbana Runway|date=26 February 2018|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301044706/https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/a18720347/kitty-spencer-royals-fashion-week/|archive-date=1 March 2018|url-status=live}} She has also modeled for Michael Kors.{{cite web |last1=Bryant |first1=Kenzie |title=This Princess Has Style as Enviable as Kate Middleton's |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2016/08/princess-maria-olympia-greece-interview |website=VanityFair.com |access-date=2020-08-26 |date=August 31, 2016}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.kopenhagenfur.com/da/nyheder/2018/august/galleri-saks-potts-med-pels-i-collection-10/|title=Galleri: Saks Potts med pels i Collection 10|publisher=Kopenhagen Fur|date=August 2018|access-date=7 September 2020|language=da}}

She became the face for Pretty Ballerinas's Spring/Summer 2019 collection.{{cite web |last1=Bryant |first1=Kenzie |title=This Princess has just launched a gorgeous shoe collection – and you will want everything |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/2019020267339/princess-maria-olympia-greece-launches-shoe-collection/|website=Hello! |access-date=2020-12-13 |date=February 2, 2019}}

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.{{cite web|last1=Chung|first1=Madelyn|title=Princess Maria-Olympia Of Greece Is Our New Favourite Style Icon|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/01/20/maria-olympia-of-greece-style_n_9032032.html|website=The Huffington Post Canada|publisher=TheHuffingtonPost.com, Inc.|access-date=2 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122101021/http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/01/20/maria-olympia-of-greece-style_n_9032032.html|archive-date=22 January 2016|language=en|date=21 January 2016}} In 2021, she began a relationship with The Hon. Peregrine Pearson, the son and heir of Michael Pearson, 4th Viscount Cowdray,[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/womens-style/princess-olympia-greece-prince-charles-always-remembered-birthday/ Princess Olympia of Greece on Prince Charles: ‘He always remembered my birthday’], The Telegraph, 5 June 2021

but in September 2023 it was reported that the relationship had ended.

[https://www.geo.tv/latest/510344-princess-maria-olympia-goddaughter-of-king-charles-faces-heartbreak "Princess Maria-Olympia, goddaughter of King Charles, faces heartbreak"], Geo News, 17 September 2023, accessed 22 September 2023

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.{{cite magazine|url=https://people.com/princess-theodora-greece-marries-american-fiance-matthew-kumar-royal-wedding-twice-postponed-8719816|title=Princess Theodora of Greece Weds American Fiancé Matthew Kumar in Twice-Postponed Royal Wedding|magazine=People|first=Janine|last=Henni|date=28 September 2024|access-date=28 September 2024}}

Οn 20 December 2024, Maria-Olympia along with other members of the former royal family acquired Greek citizenship, under the surname de Grece.{{cite web|url=https://www.tovima.com/society/former-greek-royal-family-members-apply-for-citizenship-opt-for-surname-de-grece/|title=Former Greek Royal Family Members Apply for Citizenship, Opt for Surname 'De Grece'|date=19 December 2024|access-date=20 December 2024|website=To Vima}}

Ancestry

{{ahnentafel

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|title=Ancestry of Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark{{Cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/royal/miller.html|title = Some ancestry of the Miller sisters}}{{Cite news|url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/otd-birth-of-crown-prince-pavlos-of-greece-142777/|title=The prince born to rule who has lived his life in exile|newspaper=Royal Central |date=20 May 2020 |last1=Aanmoen |first1=Oskar }}{{Cite web|url=https://honey.nine.com.au/royals/miller-sisters-it-girls-90s-pia-marie-chantal-alexandra/061c8514-8f15-41f1-98ac-b821298fff97|title=How three '90s 'It Girl' sisters married into royal families and unbelivable wealth|website=honey.nine.com.au|date=3 April 2021 }}

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|1. Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark

|2. Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece

|3. Marie-Chantal Miller

|4. King Constantine II of Greece

|5. Anne-Marie of Denmark

|6. Robert Warren Miller

|7. María Clara Pesantes Becerra

|8. King Paul of Greece