First royal wedding of the year: Nikolaos of Greece and Chrysí Vardinogianni to marry in intimate ceremony

Until a few weeks ago, little was known about the relationship between Nikolaos of Greece and Chrysí Vardinogianni, daughter and heiress of shipping magnate Yiorgos Vardinogianni. But this Friday, February 7, the couple will walk down the aisle to say “I do.” Rumors of the engagement began to circulate in mid-January, when they were seen together on both public and private outings. Confirmation of their relationship came January 16, when the couple decided to make their relationship official at the tribute to Nikolaos’ late father, Constantine II of Greece, organized at the Tatoi Palace in Athens to mark the second anniversary of the last king of Greece’s death. Chrysí’s presence at this intimate celebration indicated that she was already one of the family and, within hours, there was talk of their future plans.

If their relationship took Greece by surprise, the wedding announcement, just a week later, left even more astonished. “The Greek Orthodox wedding ceremony of HRH Prince Nikolaos, now known as Nikolaos De Grèce, and Ms. Chrysí Vardinogianni will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 pm at the Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Ragavas in Athens in a private ceremony amongst close family and friends,” said the statement released by the Greek royal house in January. The announcement came less than a year after the prince’s divorce from Tatiana Blatnik, his wife of 14 years, with whom he had no children.

The second wedding of the third son of the last Greek royals will be a world away from his first in 2010. On that occasion, 370 guests gathered on the picturesque Greek island of Spetses, including representatives from all over European royal houses. This time round, just over 70 guests are expected to attend the wedding in Athens, with royalty thin on the ground due to the low-key nature of a second marriage and the timing of the announcement. As reported by local media, the couple made their relationship official in front of their family last August before embarking on a cruise around the Greek islands.

Despite health problems, Spain’s Queen Sofia — the groom’s aunt, she is the sister of Constantine of Greece — has already arrived in Athens. She is to be accompanied to the wedding by her daughter, the Infanta Cristina, and her sister, Irene of Greece.

Also expected to attend are the King and Queen of Denmark, Frederik and Mary, who are cousins of the groom and share a close relationship with him. In fact, on January 30, the betrothed couple traveled to Copenhagen to meet with the Danish royals: it was the first time they were introduced to Chrysí. Queen Margrethe and her sister, Benedicta of Denmark, are also set to travel to Athens for the wedding.

The ceremony will take place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas of Rangava. This venue was chosen at random: it is an 11th-century Byzantine sanctuary that was rebuilt in the 18th century and later restored in 1970. The church holds deep importance for both the royal family and the Greek people, and each year on March 25, its bells ring to commemorate Greece’s National Day. In keeping with tradition, the bride and groom were received on February 4 by the Archbishop of Athens, Ieronymos II, who blessed their upcoming marriage. This meeting marked the couple’s first public appearance since their engagement was officially announced.

Although one of the best kept secrets of any wedding is the bride’s dress, we already know some details of what Chrysí will wear. As reported by Hello! magazine, the design is by couturier Christos Costarellos, a favorite of royals and celebrities who is renowned for his feminine and romantic creations.

This is the first royal wedding of the year and comes just a few months after the marriage of Theodora of Greece, the fourth daughter of Constantine and Anna Maria of Greece, to U.S. lawyer Matthew Kumar. That wedding was attended by Chrysí, although her relationship with Nikolaos was still under wraps at that time.

The bride and groom have known each other since they were children, as their families have been friends for many years. However, their relationship only blossomed into a love story a few months ago, shortly after Nikolaos’ divorce, which was publicly announced in a statement on April 19, 2024: “After fourteen years of marriage, they have chosen to amicably dissolve their union. This decision was reached with great care and mutual respect, reflecting the depth of their appreciation for one another and the moments they have shared. Their future interactions will continue to be guided by these same principles of respect and understanding, as they transition into a relationship rooted in a strong friendship.”

Still unknown is what will happen to Tatiana Blatnik’s title of princess. At the time of the divorce, the family stated that she could keep it. Now it remains to be seen whether Nikolaos’ older brother Paul of Greece, who heads the Greek royal family, will stand by that decision. Tatiana has always maintained a close relationship with her in-laws and was a great support to Anne Marie of Greece, a Danish princess who married King Constantine II, after she was widowed.

“Last year was a year of transformation for me, filled with changes that challenged me to grow, to learn, and to rebuild a life that truly reflects who I am. There were times I felt caught between identities, navigating a limbo of self-discovery. Yet, in those moments, I found clarity. By embracing my true self, I uncovered a new strength,” Tatiana posted on her Instagram profile to usher in 2025.

Chrysí Vardinogianni is almost unknown outside of Greece, but within her own country she is a household name. She was previously married to Greek singer Stefanos Xypolitas, known as Nino, with whom she has two children. The couple separated in 2017. After her divorce, she was involved with Greek actor and director Konstantinos Markoulakis, but the two parted ways in 2023.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition