THE LATE KING ALEXANDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2199, 6 November 1920, Page 4

THE LATE KING ALEXANDER.

A ROYAL ROMANCE

Athens, Oct otter 2(5

The death of King Alexander ends one of the most remarkable Royal romances of modern days. He showed a fond attachment for his morganatic wife, a beautiful wealthy Greek, Mademoiselle Aspnsia Mauos, though against her.

King-Alexander was 27 years of age. He was the second son of exKing Constantine, and succeeded to the throne on June 12th, 1917, when his father, on account of his proGerman and absolutist leanings, was expelled by the guaranteeing Powers —Britain, France and Russia. By the terms of the ultimatum which secured Constantine’s expulsion, King Alexanders elder brother, George, was excluded from the succession, and accompanied his father into exile in Switzerland. Prince Paul, who is mentioned as a •possible successor to King Alexander, is the third and youngest son of Constantine, and is only 19 years of age.,He, too, has been living with the ex-King in Switzerland. King Alexander reigned as a constitutional monarch, and throughout the last stages of the war acted with loyalty to the Allies. Later last year, however, Greece was dismayed o learn that her young sovereign, in defiance of his advisers, had married a commoner, Mdlle. Manos, a daughter of Colonel Manos. .former equerry to King Constantine. The wedding was solemnised by the Archimandrite of Athens in November, 1919, but when the King brought his bride to the palace and endeavoured to obtain her recognition as Queen, hostility in Court and Government circles became so pronounced'.that Mdlle. Manos was obliged (u leave Greece. She-took up her residence in Paris, and thither (he King followed her in July last. It was then rumoured that the King had' threatened to abdicate if his wife was not recognised as Queen, hut a few weeks later he returned.to Athens, leaving his wife in Paris. Shortly after his .return the King received the injury which resulted in his death. \Yhile walking in I lie palace gardens recently the King went to the rescue of his dog, which was attacked by a monkey? While he was driving off the assailant another monkey leapt upon him from a tree and hit him iiPlhe thigh. The' wound became septic, and internal jaundice supervened. The reigning house of Greece is a branch of (lie Danish Royal house, the late King’s grandfather, King George, being a son of Christian IX. of Denmark, and brother to Queen Alexandra.