Also, an excerpt from Wikipedia regarding Frederika: The left voted overwhelmingly for the republic because the former king was perceived by them as having engaged in political interference far beyond the scope of the monarchical prerogative. They also objected to the perceived influence exercised by members of the royal family who had no constitutional role in the political life of the country; the former king's mother, Queen Frederica, being a case in pointhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_II_of_Greece
Not sure if that is true or not but I'll take your word that it is. However, any caption relating to Q. Frederika 'coming back', as it were, would have definitely pushed the referendum in favor of a vote for the republic.
K. Constantine, whom was not allowed to return to Greece to campaign for the monarchy, made a promise to the Greek people that if he was allowed to return as their monarch, therefore, Q. Frederika would not be allowed to return as well. Now, that had to sting for his mother to be told she could not return to Greece. Furthermore, I suppose she may have understood the reason for her son's prohibition to allow her back in Greece again.
I remember hearing once, I think in a lecture - perhaps by David Horbury - at one of the old Royalty Weekends in Ticehurst that a poster during the (free but unfair) referendum on the return of the monarchy after the overthrow of the Colonels showed Queen Frederica with the caption saying something to the effect of, "I'm coming back..."
Queen Frederika most certainly added a little 'spice', if you will, to the Greek monarchy. The political intrigue that went on was quite a unique situation per a constitutional monarchy is concerned at that time. Although it was an extraordinary phenomenon of Greek politics and royal intrigue that is unprecedented in modern times. However, as fascinating as this issue is, it was unhealthy for an institution as the monarchy to carry on intermingling or influencing with the political world.
Yes, the meddling certainly went farther back. Unfortunately, many Western Europeans in the 19th and even early 20th centuries, out of ignorance, considered the Balkan peoples relatively 'wild.' The same paternalism that tainted European colonialism and Europe's approach to the Balkans and the Levant likely influenced modern Greece's monarchs.
Yes, Queen Frederika certainly had her personal charms and cared about the Greeks, but politically and in diplomatic circles she was a loose cannon and, fatally for the monarchy, a very bad example for her son.
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