Sophia of Greece (1938–)
Sophia of Greece (1938–)
Queen of Spain. Name variations: Sophia Oldenburg; Sophia of Spain; Sophie of Spain; Sofia; Sofia of Spain. Born Nov 2, 1938, in Psychiko, near Athens, Greece; dau. of Fredericka (1917–1981) and Paul I (1901–1964), king of the Hellenes (r. 1947–1964); sister of Constantine II, king of Greece (r. 1964–1973); m. Juan Carlos I (1938–), king of Spain (r. 1975–), on May 14, 1962; children: Elena (b. 1963); Cristina (b. 1965); Felipe or Philip, prince of the Asturias (b. 1968).
Went into exile with parents when Nazi Germany invaded Greece during World War II and only returned following referendum that reinstated the monarchy in 1946; became engaged to Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón (later Juan Carlos I), son of Juan de Borbón, the pretender to the Spanish throne, despite concern that he was Catholic and she Greek Orthodox (1961); with husband, became monarch of Spain (1975); has done much to patronize and promote Spanish arts and culture, especially music. Received Wiesenthal Prize (1994), for efforts with husband to improve relations with Jewish and Islamic peoples, who had flourished in Spain during Middle Ages but had been driven out by militant Catholicism; honored with Grameen Foundation USA's humanitarian award for efforts in fighting poverty (2000).
See also Women in World History.