On the morning of January 16th, a memorial service marking two years since the passing of the late King Constantine was held at Tatoi.

The ceremony, conducted in a close family circle, was discreet, and among the attendees, the presence of Chrysí Vardinogianni stood out. She accompanied Nikolaos de Grece both during the memorial service and at the lunch that followed in Kefalari.

Chrysí Vardinogianni has been close to the former royal family in the past, and her presence at the wedding of Nikolaos’ sister, Theodora, last September affirmed her strong ties to the family. Simultaneously, both she and Nikolaos are experiencing a new phase in their lives, having recently concluded significant chapters in their personal relationships.

The daughter of shipowner Giorgos Vardinogiannis and Agapi Politi ended her five-year relationship with Konstantinos Markoulakis a year ago, while the middle son of the late king recently brought an end to his long marriage with Tatiana Blatnik.

Konstantinos Markoulakis and Chrysí Vardinogianni: Five Years Together
Konstantinos Markoulakis and Chrysí Vardinogianni decided to end their relationship after five years together. Their breakup became public in December 2023, with the couple maintaining very amicable relations despite their decision.

Even after their separation, Chrysí Vardinogianni was one of the first to attend the theatrical production The Humans, directed by Konstantinos Markoulakis that same year. Their relationship, which began in 2018, was characterized by discretion both at its start and its conclusion.

Konstantinos Markoulakis and Chrysí Vardinogianni at the Herodion Theater in September 2023

Their first public appearance occurred at Stavros tou Notou, during Marina Rizou’s program. After the performance, the actor invited the group to join him at a theater hangout where he often relaxed after performances. Chrysí accepted the invitation, and the atmosphere of that evening marked the beginning of their relationship. “He’s calmer, almost serene, and exudes happiness,” his colleagues said of the actor at the time, adding, “We know it, even though he avoids discussing his personal life. Markoulakis never likes to talk about anything unrelated to his work, let alone his private affairs.”

Their joint public appearances were rare, usually limited to theater events, and their presence was always low-key. A significant chapter in their relationship was the lockdown period, during which the two grew even closer.

Konstantinos Markoulakis has a son from his marriage to Ersi Xenaki, while Chrysí Vardinogianni has two children from her marriage to singer Nino. Despite the end of their relationship, mutual respect and appreciation seem to remain intact to this day.

Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik: A Royal Romance
Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik’s relationship began in 2003 when they met in Gstaad, Switzerland. After several years together, their engagement was officially announced on December 28, 2009, by the office of the late King Constantine in London. Their wedding, held on August 25, 2010, on the island of Spetses, was a landmark event, attended by many European royals, such as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Sofia of Spain, and Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.

Snapshot from their wedding on Spetses

In a past interview about their meeting, Tatiana Blatnik had remarked, “Yes, it was love at first sight, but there was also a long period of courtship. He was incredibly polite to me, approaching me in a very romantic way. Back then, I was still in Washington, and Nikolaos was living in London. We sent each other letters. I guess we hadn’t fully embraced email yet.”

After 14 years of marriage, the couple decided to go their separate ways. The announcement of their divorce came in April 2024 from the former royal family, expressing their mutual respect and appreciation for each other. Their final joint appearance occurred at the memorial service for the late King Constantine at Tatoi in January 2024.

Nikolaos and Tatiana in happier times

Sources close to the former royal family note that the couple’s estrangement had been evident over the past three years, although they kept it out of the public eye. Family members, such as Anna-Maria, Alexia, Pavlos, and Marie-Chantal, seemed aware of the situation, while the late King Constantine, who had a special affection for Tatiana, was never informed of the challenges they faced.

The official announcement of the divorce stated:
“Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana, after fourteen years of shared life, have decided to dissolve their marriage. Both express the difficulty of this decision, the deep appreciation and respect they hold for one another, and the love they shared throughout these years. The same values of respect and understanding will form the foundation of their future relationship, a relationship of deep and sincere friendship. They will continue to live and be active in Greece, the place they both feel is their home. The family will always stand by their side. We thank you very much for your respect and discretion.”