Elena of Greece and Denmark(1896-1982)
Princess Helen (Elena) of Greece and Denmark was born in Athens,
Greece, on May 2, 1896. She was the third child of King Constantine I
of Greece and Queen Sophie Dorothea Ulrica of Prussia. Her brothers
George (King George of Greece,
Alexander and Paul each eventually became King of Greece, and she had
two sisters, Irene and Katherine.
In 1921 she married Crown Prince Carol (later King Carol II) of Romania (they would divorce in 1928). Their son, Michael, became King of Romania (King Michael), but with the Communist takeover of that country in 1947 he abdicated and left. Helen died in Lausanne, Switzreland, where they had lived since exile, on November 28, 1982, at age 86. For her efforts while Queen Mother of Romania in trying to rescue Romanian Jews from the Nazis during World War II, she was awarded the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" by the government of Israel.
In 1921 she married Crown Prince Carol (later King Carol II) of Romania (they would divorce in 1928). Their son, Michael, became King of Romania (King Michael), but with the Communist takeover of that country in 1947 he abdicated and left. Helen died in Lausanne, Switzreland, where they had lived since exile, on November 28, 1982, at age 86. For her efforts while Queen Mother of Romania in trying to rescue Romanian Jews from the Nazis during World War II, she was awarded the title of "Righteous Among the Nations" by the government of Israel.
