Nikolaos De Grece – Chrysi Vardinogianni: The wedding on Friday – Pre-wedding party, guests, and royalties

In just five days, the former royal family will welcome a new member, as Nikolaos De Grez takes the next step in his life following his separation from Tatiana Blatnik and marries Chryssi Vardinogianni.

The couple will exchange vows on February 7 at the Holy Church of Saint Nikolaos Ragkava in Plaka, as confirmed in an official family announcement.

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 18:00, the wedding of Prince Nikolaos, now Nikolaos De Grez, and Ms. Chryssi Vardinogianni will take place at the Holy Church of Saint Nikolaos Ragkava, in the presence of close family and friends. Office of the Former Royal Family of Greece,” the brief statement read.

The wedding, as reported, will be a private event with approximately 100 guests, including members of the Spanish royal family.

According to Hola, since February 7 is a weekday, Spanish representation will be limited. Expected to attend is Queen Sofia, undoubtedly accompanied by her sister, Princess Irene. Infanta Cristina, traveling from Switzerland, will also be among the guests, while Infanta Elena will not be able to attend due to a prior commitment.

As protothema.gr previously reported, there will be two pre-wedding gatherings. The celebrations will begin on February 5, with Chryssi and Nikolaos welcoming their friends from Greece and abroad.

Meanwhile, Queen Anne-Marie will host an official dinner for royal family members arriving from abroad before the wedding on February 7.

Despite the couple’s—especially Chryssi’s—preference for a modest wedding, top-tier professionals have been enlisted to create a highly elegant ceremony.

Renowned florist Pavlos will oversee the floral arrangements, while event planning star Faye Vallidi is set to design a stunning wedding reception rumored to take place in an iconic Piraeus venue. Additionally, a larger party with more guests is planned for the summer.

The Fast-Track Relationship and Wedding

This whirlwind wedding came sooner than expected, even surprising those who know the couple. However, Nikolaos and Chryssi proved everyone wrong. Their relationship has lasted seven months, and while it was an open secret in Athens’ elite circles, they were mostly seen at private social events and occasional strolls around the city.

Their first public appearance was at the memorial service for the late former king on January 16, where they were captured by photographers leaving together after the luncheon.

Chryssi Vardinogianni accompanied Nikolaos to the memorial at Tatoi, marking two years since the passing of former King Constantine.

In early June 2024, rumors about their romance began circulating in Athens’ social circles. However, they were careful not to confirm anything publicly, mainly due to their long-standing friendship. Sources close to them noted that, in the early months of their relationship, they preferred private gatherings at friends’ homes rather than public outings, avoiding Athens’ well-known restaurants.

By mid-summer, Chryssi introduced Nikolaos to her father, whom he had previously known only as a friend of hers. The couple spent a few days cruising the islands on her father’s yacht, where Nikolaos and her father had in-depth conversations. He also met Chryssi’s mother, who had known Nikolaos for years.

As summer ended, the first public appearances followed. Their first outing was in September at the Acropolis Museum for a Robert McCabe photography exhibition, though no joint photos of them were taken.

Their second public appearance, which further fueled speculation, was on September 28 at the wedding of Nikolaos’ sister, Theodora, to Matthew Kumar at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. Chryssi attended discreetly, while Nikolaos escorted his mother, Queen Anne-Marie. At the wedding reception, they were more relaxed, mingling with friends.

Many predicted a wedding was imminent, but ultimately, Nikolaos and Chryssi made that decision themselves. According to reliable sources, they have already been living together for some time, though they have kept it low-profile.

The “Cool” Prince

After a highly publicized romance, Chryssi married singer Nino in December 2012, with whom she had a son and a daughter.

Their marriage did not last and ended in an amicable divorce in 2017, with the former couple maintaining a good relationship. Chryssi then entered a five-year relationship with actor and director Konstantinos Markoulakis, whom she met a year after her divorce.

People who know her well describe her as having inherited traits from both her father and mother, which make her a strong and unconventional personality.

Unconventionality is rare among heirs of powerful business families or royal families, but there are always exceptions.

Nikolaos De Grez was never the “clean-cut prince”—he had a more outgoing personality compared to his elder brother, Pavlos. He took his time settling down, enjoying the bachelor lifestyle for years.

In London, his wild nights at legendary clubs like “Elysee”, dancing to heavy Greek zeibekiko songs, and being constantly surrounded by beautiful women, built his reputation as the cool royal.

“I don’t expect anyone to call me ‘Your Highness’—there’s no reason to. I introduce myself as Nikolaos,” he stated in an ERT interview with his brother Pavlos last year.

Even when he met and fell in love with Tatiana Blatnik in 2001 in Gstaad, it took them nine years—from engagement to wedding—before their grand ceremony on Spetses.

The Divorce from Tatiana

Just days before announcing their divorce after 14 years, Tatiana Blatnik was seen at a private event with her mother, while Nikolaos attended an Axion Hellas event alone, still wearing his wedding ring. However, a few days later, his ring was gone, a detail noticed by those who saw him in Sifnos, Schoinousa, and Astypalaia, where he participated in a charity sailing event during a difficult personal period.

Rumors of marital troubles surfaced in 2018, fueled by Nikolaos vacationing alone in Paros and Tatiana dining out in Athens with friends. The gossip escalated when Tatiana skipped the Elpida charity gala at the Zappeion Mansion.

Further speculation arose when Nikolaos skipped the Hellenic Initiative’s London gala, where Tatiana was a keynote speaker. However, they later attended a dinner hosted by Queen Margrethe of Denmark and a US Independence Day reception at the American ambassador’s residence in Athens, momentarily quashing divorce rumors.

By 2021, whispers of divorce resurfaced, accompanied by unconfirmed allegations of extramarital affairs. After 14 years of marriage, their relationship officially ended when they signed the divorce papers.

Source: pagenews.gr