Royal Order of Saints Olga and Sophia
Τάγμα Ἁγίων Ὂλγας καὶ Σοφίας
Grand Cross set of the Order
Awarded by the head of the Greek royal family
TypeDynastic Order
EligibilityWomen (post-1974 typically members of the royal family)
Awarded forAt the monarch's pleasure for personal services of women to the Crown
StatusCurrently constituted
SovereignPavlos
Grand MistressMarie-Chantal
Grades1st Class
2nd Class
3rd Class
4th Class
Statistics
First induction1936 Helen, Queen Mother of Romania
Last induction2020 Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark
Precedence
Next (higher)Royal Order of the Redeemer
Next (lower)Royal Order of George I
EquivalentRoyal Order of Saints George and Constantine

Ribbon bar of the Order

The Royal Family Order of Saints Olga and Sophia (Greek: Βασιλικόν Οἰκογενειακόν Τάγμα Ἁγίων Ὂλγας καὶ Σοφίας, romanized: Vasilikon Oikogeneiakon Tagma Agion Olgas kai Sofias) was an order of the Greek royal family. Reserved for women, it was the third highest honour of the modern Greek state and the Crown after the Order of the Redeemer and the male-only Order of Saints George and Constantine. It was instituted in January 1936, by King George II in the memory of his grandmother (Queen Olga) and his mother (Queen Sophia).

The order was abolished in 1973, by the Greek state and today is awarded only by the head of the former Greek royal family.

Grades

  • Dame Grand Cross
  • Dame Commander
  • Commander
  • Gold Cross
  • Silver Cross

Grand Mistresses

Recipients

Upon the creation of the Order in January 1936, Greek Princesses and their daughters were invested in order of precedence:

  1. The Queen Mother of Romania (née Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark) – Grand Mistress (1936–1947)
  2. Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark – Dame Grand Cross, Special Class
  3. Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark – Dame Grand Cross, Special Class
  4. Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark – Dame Grand Cross, Special Class
  5. Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna of Russia (née Princess Maria of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, Special Class
  6. Princess Alexander of Greece and Denmark (née Aspasia Manos) – Dame Grand Cross, Special Class
  7. Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  8. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  9. Princess Paul of Yugoslavia (née Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  10. Princess Elizabeth, Countess of Törring-Jettenbach (née Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  11. The Duchess of Kent (née Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  12. Princess Paul Aleksandrovich Chavchavadze (née Princess Nina Georgievna of Russia) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  13. Princess Xenia Georgievna of Russia – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  14. The Hereditary Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (née Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  15. The Margravine of Baden (née Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  16. The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine (née Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  17. Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark - Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  18. Princess George of Greece and Denmark (née Princess Marie Bonaparte) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  19. Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (née Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  20. Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark (née Princess Alice of Battenberg) - Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  21. Princess Christopher of Greece and Denmark (née Princess Françoise of Orléans) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class
  22. The Landgravine of Hesse (née Princess Margaret of Prussia) – Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class

Other dames

Current dames

References

  1. "Familia Real de Dinamarca: Marie-Chantal Miller, la royal más esperada por su ataque a Letizia". www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com.

Media related to Order of Saints Olga and Sophia at Wikimedia Commons

  • The Greek Royal Orders
  • The depicted picture is from the book: "Hellenic Orders, Decorations and Medals", Athens 1991, by George J. Beldecos, ISBN 960-85054-0-2, © Hellenic War Museum
Greek orders timeline
Orders by precedence 1832–1909 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970–present
Order of the Redeemer . Rep.
Order of Honour Rep.
Order of Saints George and Constantine . . . Dynastic
Order of Saints Olga and Sophia . . . Dynastic
Order of George I . . . . Dynastic
Order of the Phoenix . Rep.
Order of Beneficence . Rep.
Years
Regime Monarchy Republic Mon. Rep. Monarchy Rep.
1832–1909 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970–present
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