Friday, March 7, 2014

Funeral rites set for King Paul

March 7, 1964

The Kings of Norway, Denmark and Belgium announced today they will attend the late King Paul of the Hellenes funeral on Thursday, reports Reuters.

In Washington, D.C., President Lyndon B. Johnson announced that the First Lady and former President Harry S. Truman "would represent the United States.

The body of the late king who died on Friday at the age of 62 after a "painful illness" rested in the Palace's throne room.  He will be taken to the Cathedral on Monday, where he will lie in state until the funeral.  Three weeks of official mourning was declared today.

King Olav V will represent Norway, according to announcement from Oslo. In Copenhagen it was announced that King Frederik IX, Queen Ingrid, and two of their three daughters, Princess Margrethe, heir to the throne, and 17-year-old Princess Anne Marie, will go to Athens.

Princess Anne Marie is the fiancée of King Constantine.  The wedding was expected to take place in January 1965, but now may take place later this year.

In Brussels,  it was announced King Baudouin will attend the funeral.   Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, a cousin of the late King Paul, is expected to attend, although no announcement has been made.  Queen Elizabeth II will not be attending as she is expecting a fourth child later this month.

Tonight, King Constantine, Queen Mother Frederika and other members of the royal family, as well as staff, court officials and members of the royal household attend a "private memorial service" in the throne room.

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