Prince Michael of Greece dies aged 85: Tributes pour in for Prince Philip's first cousin who lost his father aged one and renounced his rights to the Greek throne to marry a commoner

Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, who was Prince Philip's first cousin, has died astatine nan property of 85.

The royal, who was a renowned writer and historiographer nether nan sanction Michel De Gres, passed distant astatine a infirmary successful Athens, it was announced today.

Prince Michael, who was nan past remaining grandson of George I pinch a lineage to nan House of Bourbon done his mother's broadside of nan family, is group to beryllium buried successful nan Greek superior connected Thursday.

He was good known for his devotion to his woman Marina Karella and his turbulent individual life which saw him tragically suffer his begetter astatine nan property of conscionable one.

Prince Michael had to springiness up his authorities to nan Greek throne to wed Marina successful 1965 arsenic contempt being an acclaimed creator and sculptor, she was not a personnel of nan royal family. 

Prince Michael was calved successful 1939 connected nan eve of awesome alteration successful Europe and successful nan Greek Royal Family.

The only kid of Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark - who was nan younger relative of Prince Philip's father, Prince Andrew - and his 2nd woman Princess Francoise d'Oleans of France, his younker was characterised by upheaval.

His begetter died astatine nan property of 51 successful 1940 aft a short illness, while his mother passed distant successful 1953 leaving him an orphan astatine nan property of 14.

Being shuttled astir Europe and northbound Africa successful nan midst of nan Second World War, Michael was raised successful Paris pursuing nan cessation of hostilities, wherever he developed a fascination pinch Greece and its history from afar.

He would return to nan state arsenic an adult, joining its service and serving successful nan Cavalry-Armoured Corps and becoming nan only royal to summation Greek citizenship.

His emotion for nan state kept it adjacent to his bosom and moreover erstwhile spending agelong periods distant from nan country, he ever returned successful bully time.

When nan authorities fell to a right-wing subject coup successful 1967, Michael was nan only personnel of nan Greek Royal Family to stay successful nan state aft his nephew King Constantine grounded successful his attempts to overthrow nan Junta.

Despite this, it was his matrimony to Marina Karella that captured nan hearts of nan nation.

The mates had met done communal friends astatine a statement and Michael was instantly smitten pinch nan 'absolutely charming' woman. 

Marina, who was nan girl of Athenian industrialist Theodoros Karella, had studied Fine Arts successful Greece and Paris - nan second of which gave them thing to talk astir arsenic Michael's mother was French and he had grown up successful nan country.

Michael recalled nan infinitesimal successful his memoir, saying: 'She was conscionable truthful beautiful and gracious pinch me. It didn't return agelong to determine that I wanted to wed her.

'I retrieve I was dancing pinch her astatine a party, and I conscionable looked astatine her. It was for illustration a revelation – it was her and nary 1 else.'

Just a fewer weeks later they sewage engaged, and contempt immoderate trepidation connected her part, it would beryllium a lucifer made successful heaven.

Their matrimony took 2 years to negotiate, pinch Michael forced to springiness up his authorities to nan Greek throne successful bid to wed a commoner. 

But erstwhile they did necktie nan knot connected February 7, 1965, astatine nan Royal Palace successful Athens it was an arena to beryllium remembered, pinch nan impermanent database including Queen Frederica, King Constantine, Queen Anna-Maria and, nan Count and Countess of Paris.

He later said he 'didn't hesitate' to springiness distant his birthright for love, adding that by doing truthful it 'gave maine a consciousness of freedom' and meant he was nary longer beholden to nan Royal Family, allowing him to take his ain profession.

'It was emotion astatine first show – it has never, ever changed,' he said past year, adding: 'Now we are joined 58 years … Marina and my state Greece are nan same.'

The state he felt upon giving up his birthright gave Michael an penetration into nan weight moving royals transportation pinch them, including King Charles.

Speaking pursuing nan decease of Queen Elizabeth II past year, he expressed his sympathy for Charles having to return to nan throne pursuing nan decease of his mother.

Referring to nan caller monarch, he told Fox News: 'I don't cognize if he's cleanable aliases not

'What I cognize is that he tin hardly do amended than what he does now. I deliberation he does his best. [Queen Camilla], too. 

'It's very difficult… I do not envy him astatine all, really – mediocre guy. And he does it pinch dedication, pinch a consciousness of humour. She, too. But I would not for illustration that occupation astatine all.'

The occupation he ended up doing was a dream travel existent - nan prince became a celebrated novelist, penning astir humanities subjects including Ancient Greece, nan Ottoman Empire, arsenic good arsenic nan European royal families.

He started his profession successful 1970 and worked each time researching topics of liking to him which he based his books around. 

Prince Michael wrote fictional biographies arsenic good arsenic novels successful French.  

He is survived by his woman Marina Karella, their daughters Princess Alexandra and Princess Olga, and their 5 grandchildren.