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Marie-Chantal of Greece - Biography

The wife of Prince Pavlos of Greece has lived a modern-day fairytale, from her upbringing as the daughter of a billionaire to her acceptance into Europe's royal circle.

Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece attend a reception at Buckingham Palace for overseas guests ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 5, 2023 in London, England.
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Who is Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece?

Marie-Chantal Claire Miller is the wife of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, who is the son of Constantine II of Greece (1940–2023) and Anne-Marie of Denmark. Marie-Chantal's husband was the heir apparent to the now-defunct throne of Greece, as the monarchy was abolished in 1973. 

Marie-Chantal's early life

Marie-Chantal made her appearance into a gilded world on 17 September 1968, born to American duty-free billionaire Robert W Miller and his Ecuador-born wife Maria Clara Pesantas. 

The middle of three sisters, she was raised in Hong Kong until the age of nine, and like her siblings Pia and Alexandra attended the Institut Le Rosey boarding school in Switzerland followed by the Ecole Active Bilingue in Paris. Her love of art and design later led to her studies at the New York Academy of Arts and New York University. 

The blonde socialite and her two sisters are perhaps best known for their well-connected marriages. 

Marie-Chantal's marriage to Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece

The couple met at a wedding anniversary party thrown by mutual friends in New Orleans; seated next to each other they instantly hit it off. 

"It really was love at first sight," recalled Pavlos, the eldest son of the former King Constantine of Greece, who was deposed in a military coup in 1967. "I was immediately struck by her delicate features and her stunning beauty. Then I soon discovered we had so much in common." 

Marie-Chantal and Pavlos became engaged in 1995 after a romantic proposal in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad, and their July wedding that year in London attracted representatives from most of Europe's royal houses. 

The 1,250 guests included Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and the groom's aunts Queen Sofia of Spain and Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Catholic-raised Marie Chantal, then 26, converted to the Greek Orthodox Church before the ceremony at the capital's St Sophia Cathedral. 

After the marriage, the pair moved to New York where she continued her studies in art history and Pavlos worked as an investment consultant. 

Does Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece have children? 

The royals share four children together. Their first child, Princess Maria Olympia, was born in 1996. The couple later welcomed three sons; Prince Constantine Alexios in 1998, Prince Achileas Andreas in 2000 and Prince Odysseas Kimon, who arrived in 2004 in London, where the family is now based. 

Marie-Chantal's fashion work 

A key figure on glossy magazine best-dressed lists and renowned for her elegant fashion sense, in 2000 Marie-Chantal put her passion for style into founding her eponymous line of luxury children's clothing. Sold in London, New York and Greece, it includes Reese Witherspoon and Princess Caroline of Monaco among its clients. She has also written and illustrated several children's books.

EXCLUSIVE: Inside Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece's fabulous New York home

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