How royal fans have rallied around Princess Tatiana of Greece during her ‘avalanche’ of a year as Prince Nikolaos prepares to wed 10 months after their 14-year marriage ended

It’s not everyday a Royal Wedding sets tongues wagging across the world – but then again, it’s not everyday the ‘Playboy Prince’ of Greece marries the ex-wife of a famous pop star – just 10 months after his divorce was announced.

This Friday, Prince Nikolaos, 55, is set to tie the knot with Chrysí Vardinogiánni – a mother-of-two, who is the daughter of a Greek shipping magnate. 

The fiercely-private couple have enjoyed a whirlwind romance over the past year and will marry in a private ceremony in Athens, aware from the glare of the world’s media.

It’s perhaps unsurprising the pair have taken such a low-key approach to their nuptials – as royal fans have rallied around Nikolaos’ ex Princess Tatiana in the wake of the announcement.

Although their split in April 2024 was said to be ‘amicable’, the former publicist has 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. 

Here FEMAIL delves into the wedding that has raised eyebrows among royal watchers as supportive royal fans dub Princes Tatiana an ‘asset to their country’ ahead of of Nikolaos’ remarriage.

‘Playboy’ Prince’s first marriage and Tatiana’s ‘simple life’

Prince Nikolaos is the second son of the late King Constantine of Greece and his wife Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark.

Following their exile in 1967, the Greek Royal Family temporarily lived in Rome before then settling in London.

In his twenties, Nikolaos earned himself the nickname the ‘Playboy Prince’ after he was pictured partying with supermodels Elle Macpherson and Jemima Khan, Tatler reports. 

In 2003, Prince Nikolaos – who works as a business consultant and photographer – met Tatiana Blatnik on a ski trip in Switzerland.

The Slovenian-German event planner, who born in Venezuela but raised in Switzerland, previously claimed they fell in love at first sight.

Speaking to the Real Style Network in 2016, Tatiana said: ‘It’s a beautiful story that continues to grow.’ 

During their early married life, the couple settled in Chelsea, with Tatiana working as a publicist for Diane von Furstenberg. 

Shortly after their wedding on the Greek island of Spetses, Tatiana admitted: ‘I do not feel like a princess. 

‘I do not feel that I married a prince, with a title. Well actually, yes, he is my prince, but nothing more.’ 

But three years later, the couple joined King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie (who is the sister of Queen Margrethe of Denmark) in moving back to Athens.

In a 2016 interview with Vogue, Tatiana said it was a ‘privilege and honour’ to have married into the Greek Royal Family – but insisted she lives a ‘very simple life’ in Greece.

She explained: ‘I work, I go to the supermarket, I cook, I walk my dog, and the Greek people have welcomed me like they would anyone else.

‘There’s a word here, philoxenia, a love of strangers, and I’ve really felt that very strongly.’

Nikolaos and Tatiana’s sudden split that brought about ‘avalanche of change’

During the course of their 14-year marriage, Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana often appeared in public together. 

In February 2024, the couple – who never had children – were pictured walking arm-in-arm into St George’s Chapel in Windsor for the Thanksgiving Service for King Constantine, who died of a stroke aged 82 the year before.

As such, royal watchers were left stunned when the pair announced their split less than two months later.

Their statement read: ‘We wish to inform you of a significant and heartfelt decision made by TRH Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana. After 14 years of marriage, they have chosen to amicably dissolve their union. 

‘This decision was reached with great care and mutual respect, reflecting the depth of their appreciation for one another and the moments they have shared.

‘They will continue to live and build their lives in Greece, a place they both call home. The Family will always support them.’

Days before this statement, Tatiana revealed on Instagram that she had been struggling with panic attacks and anxiety as part of Stress Awareness Month.

She wrote: ‘I recently discovered, in the midst of a panic attack, that I needed to go back to basics and work on my breathing more. I had never experienced anything like this.

‘I felt like I was drowning and couldn’t breathe and kept gasping for air. Writing about that moment still constricts my throat. I am sharing this for those that suffer from stress and anxiety and potentially panic attacks to know there are strategies that can help manage and prevent them.’

Following their split announcement, it was confirmed Tatiana would keep her Princess title – even though it carries no constitutional meaning.

One month later, the Princess faced another heartbreak – when her stepbrother Attilio Brillembourg vanished without a trace in the middle of the night in Malibu. Eight months later, he is still missing.

In an interview with BHMagazino last October, Tatiana spoke about the ‘avalanche of changes’ that happened in ‘front of everyone’.

Summarising her 2024, the royal said: ‘[2024 has been a] really difficult year for me, one of transition, full of moments of uncertainty and pain […]

‘Everything happened at the same time […] I learned the importance of allowing myself to feel, cry, manage emotions and move forward with self-compassion.’

Attilio is the son of Princess Tatiana’s former stepfather, Attilio Brillembourg, who was previously married to her mother and accompanied her at her 2010 wedding to Prince Nikolaos of Greece.

The younger Attilio, a financier who lived in New York and is rumoured to have dated Charlie Chaplin’s granddaughter Kiera Chaplin.

At the time his missing persons report was filled, the sheriff’s department said there was ‘concern’ for Attilio’s ‘wellbeing’.

Tatiana added: ‘Life’s challenges remind me how important it is to persevere, to have hope and faith in the power of the human spirit.’

To mark his birthday last August, Tatiana shared a series of old photos of her brother and pledged to ‘never give up hope’ of finding him.

She wrote: ‘Every year, especially growing up, we celebrated our birthdays together. Today I celebrate you, everything you were and are to me and taught me about life & loving yourself.

‘I remember you, the crazy soul cycles, mornings and nights at The Barns, the bongos, oreo milkshakes, yoga, shooting stars, missed flights, we sit and talk about stories with you – and it’s a book in itself.

‘I miss you. I miss our talks. Atti & Tati always.’

What’s more, Tatiana has been able to rely on the support of one hugely important family member amid her challenging last 12 months. 

Earlier this year, Tatiana paid gushing tribute to her mother for helping her move house – just days before her ex-husband ties the knot again.

Sharing a selfie with her Instagram followers, Tatiana wrote: ‘Thank you to the most amazing mamasita for helping me move in less than 48 hours.

‘U R unreal! Finishing with my favourite: filling up the kitchen with local produce from the Friday Manaviko – pure happiness and love.’ 

Despite their split, Tatiana still has old photos of her husband on her Instagram feed, which have been flooded with supportive comments from fans during her challenging year.

One recently wrote: ‘All Greece supports and loves Tatiana.’

Another gushed: ‘Greece loves TATIANA.’

Meanwhile, a third well-wisher said: ‘You are special and an asset to our country.’

Prince Nikolaos second wedding – as ‘Greece supports Tatiana’

Just 10 months after their separation was announced, Prince Nikolaos confirmed last month that he is set to remarry later this week.

In January, it was confirmed the royal had proposed to Chrysí Vardinogiánni, who is the ex-wife of Greek singer Stefanos Xypolitas.

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 Tatiana are old family friends and the pair made their reported first appearance as a couple at Princess Theodora of Greece’s wedding in October 2024.

In January, Chrysí joined her fiancée 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.’

This afternoon, Prince Nikolaos and his fiancée were pictured arriving their wedding rehearsal at Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Nikolaos in Plaka, Athens.

As Prince Nikoloas smiled for the cameras, Chrysí bowed her head as she was joined by loved ones.

In a statement, the Greek Royal Family confirmed the wedding will be a ‘private ceremony’ that will only be attended by ‘close family and friends’.