The dazzling guests who dressed to the nines as Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Chrysí Vardinogianni tie the knot after whirlwind romance

Just like his parents King Constantine II of Greece and Queen Anne-Marie, and more recently, his sister Princess Theodora and her American husband Matthew Kumar, Prince Nikolaos wed his bride Chrysí Vardinogianni in the Greek capital of Athens on Friday.

However, while the location was traditional for a royal wedding, many of the other aspects were not – notably the guest list, which at around a rumoured 60 attendees, was much smaller than might be expected.

There were certainly far fewer attendees than at Prince Nikolaos’ first wedding in 2010, when he tied the knot with Princess Tatiana – whom he divorced just 10 months ago after 14 years of marriage.

Nikolaos, 55, – once dubbed the ‘Playboy Prince’ after partying with the likes of Elle Macpherson and Jemima Khan according to Tatler – had a small wedding this time round, unlike at his first nuptials, when some 370 people witnessed the event.

Friday’s ceremony and reception, which – like the couple themselves – was a very private event.  Shipping scion Chrysí, who has reportedly long been a close friend of the Greek royal family, only split from her husband Konstantinos Markoulakis, a director, in December 2023.

In January this year, the fiercely private couple’s relationship was revealed, with their upcoming wedding announced shortly after.

An official statement from the former Royal Family of Greece read: ‘On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM, the wedding of Prince Nicholas, formerly Nicholas De Gres, to Mrs. Chryssi Vardinoyannis will take place at the Church of Agios Nikolaos Ragavas, in the presence of close relatives and friends of the family and the couple.’

However, while the guest list was small, it was glamorous. Here, FEMAIL looks at some of the stylish attendees at the nuptials of Prince Nikolaos and Chrysí Vardinogianni.

Prince Nikolaos

Prince Nikolaos (pictured, right) with his new bride Chrysí Vardinogianni (pictured, left) following their intimate wedding ceremony on Friday

The groom, who has been called the Playboy Prince by some due to his rumoured relations with a number of attractive and high-profile women, looked dapper for his wedding ceremony, which was held at the Holy Church of Saint Nicholas Ragavas.

Perhaps one of the reasons the event was held away from the glare of the media was because it came hot on the heels of Nikolaos’s separation from Princess Tatiana, who later shared how she had had a ‘difficult year’, months after announcing the split in April and later learning that her stepbrother had gone missing.

As such, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the prince and his new bride, a mother-of-two, who is the daughter of a Greek shipping magnate and the ex-wife of a famous pop star, have taken such a low-key approach to their nuptials.

After it was announced that Nikolaos – who works as a business consultant and photographer – would be marrying for a second time, royal fans rallied around his ex Tatiana.

Although their split in April 2024 was said to be ‘amicable’, the former publicist hinted at her personal heartbreak in social media posts discussing her ‘year of uncertainty, pain and transformation’.

As well as discussing her struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, the Princess – who has maintained her royal title – has also had the added heartbreak of her beloved stepbrother going missing this year.

On Thursday, Nikolaos and Chrysí enjoyed a pre-wedding dinner alongside guests including Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie and Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as Princess Theodora and her husband Matthew Kumar, but the bride appeared to shield herself from photographers when stepping out at the party with her groom, seemingly using her long blonde locks to hide most of her face.

Chrysí Vardinogianni 

Bride Chrysí (pictured, right) stunned in an elegant cream dress at her wedding on Friday. Seen with her father, Greek shipping tycoon Yiorgos Vardinogianni (pictured, left)

Mother of the bride Agapis Politis (left) looked proud in a gorgeous deep burgundy gown as she arrived for her daughter’s big day

In January, it was confirmed that Nikolaos – the second son of the late King Constantine of Greece and his wife Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark – had proposed to Chrysí, who is the ex-wife of Greek singer Stefanos Xypolitas, and the daughter and heiress of Greek shipping tycoon Yiorgos Vardinogianni and Agapis Politis.

Chrysí and Stefanos – who share George, 12, and Karen, 11 – reportedly married in 2012 and divorced five years later. After this, Chrysí dated the actor Konstantinos Markoulakis for five years. Their split in December 2023 came four months before Nikolaos and Tatiana’s shock separation. 

Hello! Greece reports Nikolaos and Chrysí are old family friends and made their first appearance as a couple at Princess Theodora of Greece’s wedding in October 2024.

Chrysí also joined her fiancée in January at a memorial commemorating two years since his father’s death. That same month, the couple travelled to Copenhagen with Nikolaos’ family to attend a reception for Lene Balleby – King Frederik and Queen Mary’s outgoing Head of Communications.

As they arrived at Amalienborg Palace, Nikolaos and Chrysí were congratulated on their engagement by members of local media – with the Prince replying: ‘Thank you very much.’ 

Chrysí stunned on her big day, sporting an elegant, fitted gown, wearing her mother-in-law Queen Anne-Marie’s Antique Corsage Tiara. The gorgeous heirloom headpiece was a gift to the final Queen of Greece on her 18th birthday. It was also worn by the wives of Nikolaos’ two brothers on their wedding days.

The champagne gown, paired with a lace-trimmed veil, had a high neckline and cap sleeves and was made from heavily embellished lace. Her blonde hair was swept up into an effortless updo, with face-framing strands left free, accompanied by a natural makeup look.

Hello Greece previously reported the bride would walk down the aisle in a dress by Greek designer Christos Costarellos – who made Carrie Johnson’s bridal gown and counts Meghan Markle among his fans.

Princess Theodora of Greece

Princess Theodora of Greece (pictured, right) was the very image of glamour as she attended the event with her husband Matthew Kumar (pictured, left)

Nikolaos sister’ Princess Theodora, 41, was among the famous faces who was photographed at the nuptials in Athens.

She looked chic in a turquoise satin gown to attend the ceremony with her husband Matthew Kumar.

Theodora married LA-based lawyer husband Matthew in September last year, finally sealing their wedding vows after two attempts and a four-year delay.

Their wedding was postponed twice – in 2020 and 2023. Their initial wedding was scheduled to be held on the Greek island of Spetses in 2020, but had to be put on hold because of the Covid pandemic.

A second attempt was postponed after the death of Theodora’s father King Constantine II of Greece in 2023.

However, when their big day took place, actress Theodora, who was born in London and played secretary Alison Montgomery in The Bold and the Beautiful, looked every inch the perfect bride as she arrived at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens.

Wearing a bespoke off-the-shoulder wedding gown from Greek designer Celia Kritharioti, the bride put on a dazzling display in the Cartier-made Khedive of Egypt Tiara, which has long been worn by women in Theodora’s family on their big days.

While attending her brother’s wedding on Friday, she looked just as dazzling, donning a full-length pale turquoise gown with a deep v-neck and thigh-high split. Her blonde locks were worn loose, and she opted for glamorous make-up, sporting a bold red lip. 

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece

Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, became the head of the Royal House of Greece when his father King Constantine II passed away on January 10, 2023.

The 57-year-old is the eldest child of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie.

Pavlos is married to American heiress Marie-Chantal Miller, who runs a children’s clothing line, and the couple share five children. They split their time between the UK, the US and Greece.

He looked dapper as he attended the nuptials on Friday, opting for a navy suit, with a crisp white shirt, and a navy tie.

Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece 

Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece (pictured, left) looked elegant as she attended the event with her husband Crown Prince Pavlos (pictured, right)

Marie Chantal of Greece has lived a modern-day fairytale, from growing up with billionaire father Robert Miller to falling ‘in love at first sight’ with Prince Pavlos, heir to the Greek crown.

She combines work as a clothes designer with a life as mother-of-five whose children are already forging their own successful paths.

She also has a huge online following, with around a quarter of a million fans on one social media channel alone.

Born in London on September 17, 1968, to parents Robert W Miller and his Ecuador-born wife Maria Clara Pesantas, she was brought up in Hong Kong until the age of nine, where she then went to boarding school in Switzerland.

Her father Robert initially made a fortune as a pioneer in the world of duty free shopping, establishing the DFS or Duty Free Shopping chain.

Later, he established an investment business that made him and his family even more money.

Marie-Chantal has a long history of associating with the rich and famous; before she married into the royal family, the London-born blonde worked for Andy Warhol.

She began a degree in History of Art at New York University in 1993, and it was in the city that she met Prince Pavlos for the first time.

The couple met on a blind date set up by New York investment banker Alecko Papamarkou, a mutual friend who was convinced they would hit it off.

‘We clicked,’ the Princess told Vanity Fair in 2008. ‘It was love at first sight. I knew that he was the person I would marry.’

The pair became engaged in 1995 after a romantic proposal in the Swiss ski resort of Gstaad, and their July wedding later that year was the largest gathering of royals in London since Queen Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip in 1946.

Among the 1,250 guests who attended were the royal families of Britain, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Romania, Jordan and Bulgaria.

The couple moved to Manhattan, where she continued her studies in art history and Pavlos worked as an investment consultant. It was here they had their firstborn Olympia, before moving to London in 2002 so their children could have a European education. The couple now have five children.

In 2000, she launched her luxury children’s wear brand Marie-Chantal, which has since gone on to amass celebrity and royal fans, including Kate Middleton. The Greek royals have lived between New York and London since 2004, with Marie Chantal running a children’s clothing line out of the UK.

While attending the wedding of Prince Nikolaos, Marie Chantal coordinated with her husband: as he wore a navy suit, she opted for a navy midi dress with long sleeves, and a floral print featuring flowers in a lighter shade of blue.

Her blonde locks were styled into a neat down do, with soft waves and a side parting, and she wore an elegant, natural make-up look. 

Princess Benedikte of Denmark 

Princess Benedikte of Denmark (pictured) pulled out all the stops for the wedding, and looked stunning in a bold-hued fuchsia gown

Princess Benedikte of Denmark was also among the glamorous guests at the nuptial do in Athens.

The 80-year-old royal is the second daughter and child of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

As the younger sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who abdicated in January last year, the current King of Denmark, Frederik X is her nephew.

Mother-of-three Benedikte, who was wed to the late Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, appears regularly at events representing the Danish monarch.

Princess Benedikte looked stunning, donning a fuchsia full-length gown, with an asymmetric neckline for the event.

Her light silver hair was styled into an elegant chignon, and she accessorised with pearl jewellery and a glamorous make-up look. 

Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark

Queen Anne-Marie (pictured, left) looked elegant as she was photographed at the event with Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark (pictured, right)

Queen Anne-Marie is Prince Nikolaos of Greece’s mother and the widow of King Constantine II of Greece.

She became Queen of Greece as King Constantine’s consort when they married on September 18, 1964. Nine years later the Greek monarchy was abolished.

The 78-year-old Danish royal is the youngest daughter of the late Frederik IX of Denmark and the late Ingrid of Sweden. Her older sister is Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

Princess Theodora’s mother is also connected to the Spanish royals – her sister-in-law is Queen Sofía of Spain.

She was photographed smiling as she attended her son’s nuptial do, looking chic in a bronze belted coat.

Princess Alexia of Greece 

Nikolaos’ sister, Princess Alexia of Greece, 59, is the eldest child of the late King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie.

Princess Alexia is married to architect and champion yachtsmen Carlos Javier Morales Quintana, and the couple share four children.

Princess Alexia wore a cream silk blouse and deep maroon skirt, accentuating her waist with a statement belt.

Her glossy brunette locks were styled into loose waves, which tumbled past her shoulders, and she wore a classic make-up look, with dark eyeliner and a berry lip.

Infanta Cristina of Spain 

Infanta Cristina of Spain (pictured), sixth in line to the Spanish throne, looked elegant in a muted, neutral ensemble 

Infanta Cristina of Spain, 59, the sister of King Felipe of Spain, also attended the nuptials in Athens.

Christina is the daughter of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia – previously part of the Greek royal family and the sister of Constantine II of Greece – and is sixth in line to the Spanish throne.

She looked looked elegant in a muted, neutral ensemble, pairing a pleated skirt with a pashmina, and toting a classic Chanel handbag in cream.

Queen Sofia of Spain 

Queen Sofia of Spain, sister of the late King Constantine II, is sister-in-law of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.

She was the Queen of Spain until her husband Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014. Their only son, Felipe VI, is the current King of Spain and is married to Queen Letizia.

Queen Sofia, 86, was elegant in a black and white ensemble, opting for back trousers and a black cape, which she paired with a white blouse. She completed the look with a small black handbag and kitten-heeled black pumps.

Princess Irene of Greece 

Queen Sofia of Spain (pictured, right) smiled and waved at assembled bystanders as she arrived at the event with Princess Irene of Greece (pictured, left)

While she generally prefers to keep a low profile, Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark was snapped attending the wedding of Prince Nikolaos

The 82-year-old has some impressive royal ties, as the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and the late former King Constantine II of Greece.

Though she now lives in Madrid, with her nephew King Felipe VI of Spain and his wife, Queen Letizia, the royal made a rare appearance to attend the Athens event.

She opted for a green ensemble, wearing velvet emerald trousers which she paired with a top in a darker hue of the same colour. 

Her short, silver locks were styled into a chic down do, and she completed the look with a natural make-up look.

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