Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Chrysí Vardinogianni tie the knot after whirlwind romance – as close family and friends attend controversial royal wedding just 10 months after ‘playboy’ split from Princess Tatiana

Prince Nikolaos of Greece has officially tied the knot with shipping heiress Chrysí Vardinogianni in Athens – just ten months after the end of his 14-year marriage. 

The 55-year-old – previously dubbed the ‘Playboy Prince’ by Tatler for his extravagant partying – divorced his previous wife Princess Tatiana in April last year. 

He wed his new bride at 6pm today in the Greek capital, celebrating with only around 50 of their closest friends and family. 

The big day came hot on the heels of divorce for the bride too. Chrysí, the daughter and heiress of Greek shipping tycoon Yiorgos Vardinogianni, only divorced Greek director Konstantinos Markoulakis in December 2023. 

Chrysí stunned in an elegant, fitted gown, wearing her mother-in-law Queen Anne-Marie’s Antique Corsage Tiara. 

The gorgeous heirloom headpiece was a gift to the final Queen of Greece on her 18th birthday. It was also worn by the wives of Nikolaos’ two brothers on their wedding days. 

The champagne gown, paired with a lace-trimmed veil, had a high neckline and cap sleeves and was made from heavily embellished lace. 

Her blonde hair was swept up into an effortless updo, with face-framing strands left free, accompanied by a natural makeup look. 

Hello Greece previously reported the bride would walk down the aisle in a dress by Greek designer Christos Costarellos – who made Carrie Johnson’s bridal gown and counts Meghan Markle among his fans. 

The Greek Orthodox ceremony took place in the 11th-century St Agios Nikolaos Ragavas Church in the beautiful hillside Plaka neighbourhood, surrounded by ancient buildings including the Acropolis. 

The lowkey ceremony was a far cry from Nikolaos’ first wedding in 2010 when 370 guests came to the picturesque Greek island of Spetses, including members of European royal houses. 

The Greek prince – the second son of the late King Constantine of Greece and his wife Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark – left Venezuelan former publicist Princess Tatiana, 44, last year. 

Soon after, she received the horrifying news her stepbrother had gone missing.

Although their split was said to be ‘amicable’, she hinted at her personal heartbreak in social media posts discussing her ‘year of uncertainty, pain and transformation’.

On top of everything else, the Princess – who has kept her royal title – also struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, which she has discussed publicly. 

With royal fans rallying around Princess Tatiana in the wake of the divorce, it is perhaps unsurprising that Nikolaos chose such a lowkey approach for his nuptials today. 

Yesterday, Nikolaos and Chrysí enjoyed a pre-wedding dinner alongside guests including Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the groom’s mother Queen Anne-Marie and Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as Nikolaos’ sister Princess Theodora and her American husband Matthew Kumar.

But the bride appeared to shield herself from photographers when stepping out at the party with her groom, seemingly using her long blonde locks to hide most of her face.

The fiercely private couple’s relationship and engagement was only revealed last month, with the wedding announced shortly after. 

A statement from the former Royal Family of Greece said: ‘On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM, the wedding of Prince Nicholas, formerly Nicholas De Gres, to Mrs. Chryssi Vardinoyannis will take place at the Church of Agios Nikolaos Ragavas, in the presence of close relatives and friends of the family and the couple.’ 

Their choice of Athens is traditional for a Greek royal wedding – the prince’s parents and his sister have all gotten hitched in the capital. 

Mother-of-two Chrysí is not as well-known outside Greece but is a household name in her own country. She shares two children – George, 12, and Karen, 11 – with her ex-husband, Greek singer Nino, who she separated from in 2017 after five years of marriage. 

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. 

The pair were joined at their wedding today by an array of famous faces. 

Nikolaos sister’ Princess Theodora donned a turquoise satin gown to attend the ceremony with her husband Matthew Kumar. 

Mother of the bride Agapis Politis looked proud in a gorgeous deep burgundy gown as she arrived for her daughter’s big day. 

The prince’s older brother, Crown Prince of Greece Pavlos attended with his wife Marie-Chantal, the pair in a matching navy ensemble. 

His older sister Princess Alexia of Greece arrived with her architect husband Carlos Morales Quintana and their daughters, looking all smiles. 

Marina Carella, the widow of the late Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, was also in attendance, bundled up in a thick black wool coat for the winter wedding 

The ceremony saw guests from royal families from across the rest of Europe too, with Infanta Cristina of Spain, sixth in line to the Spanish throne, looking elegant in a muted, neutral ensemble. 

Doña Sofía, queen of Spain from 1975 to 2014, showing off beautifully coiffed hair, arrived with her daughter Infanta Cristina of Spain and her sister Princess Irene of the Netherlands.

Prince Benedikte of Denmark wore an asymmetrical fuchsia gown for the occasion, paired with a white pashmina. 

She was joined by her children Princess Alexandra and Prince Gustav and his wife Princess Carina for the wedding today. 

They were joined by notable Greek figures from outside the royal family too, with Greek Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni  and her mother Eleni Kefalogianni arriving in matching purple outfits for the ceremony in Athens today. 

Hello Greece reports Nikolaos and Chrysí are old family friends and made their first appearance as a couple at Princess Theodora’s wedding in October 2024.

Chrysí also joined her fiancé in January 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.’

But his split from his previous wife came as a surprise at the time. 

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.

Less than two months later, the pair announced their divorce.  

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 Greek publication 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, 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.’

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.’

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.’

Greek media had reported murmurs of estrangement in recent months – with the appearance at the Windsor memorial service in February the last time they were seen together in public.

Nikolaos’ playboy nickname comes from his partying with the likes of Australian model Elle Macpherson – known as ‘The Body’ for her swimsuit-wearing Sports Illustrated covers in the eighties – and English journalist and producer Jemima Khan.