King and Queen announce death of beloved royal after emergency visit

Princess Irene of Greece, the younger sister of Spain’s Queen Sofia, has died at the age of 83.

The beloved royal passed away at 11: 40 a.m. on Thursday, January 15, after a long and progressive illness. The news was announced in official statements by the Greek and Spanish Royal Family.

"Their Majesties the King and Queen and Her Majesty Queen Sofia regret to announce the passing on Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece," read a statement by the Spanish royal household obtained by HOLA! magazine. 

Princess Irene was the youngest child of King Paul of Greece and Queen Fredericia. Her sister, Sofia, was born a Greek princess, but she became the Queen of Spain when she married the late King Juan Carlos I. Irene spent her later years living with Sofia at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, where she ultimately passed away “surrounded by loved ones,” per a statement by the Greek royal family. 

The tragic announcement comes after Queen Sofia cancelled scheduled engagements in Palma de Mallorca earlier this week to remain at her sister’s side as her health declined. Irene had been described as being in “critical” and “fragile” condition. Three years ago, HOLA! reported that the princess was “suffering from cognitive impairment that has progressively weakened her.”

Princess Irene was last seen publicly in February 2025, when she attended the wedding of her nephew, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, and Chrysi Vardinogiánni in Athens. She appeared in a wheelchair at the ceremony.

Unmarried and without children, Irene shared an exceptionally close bond with Queen Sofia and remained a constant presence in the lives of her nieces and nephews. In her later years, she lived in a private apartment at the Zarzuela Palace.