Crown Princess of Greece Marie-Chantal, a successful businesswoman and mother of five, has once again proven that royal status does not prevent her from being a modern woman who understands the challenges of today. In a recent interview marking the reissue of her book on etiquette, she shared her insights on raising children in a technology-driven world. The princess revealed several family secrets that help her and her husband, Crown Prince Pavlos, maintain a warm, trusting atmosphere at home. Her approach to motherhood and family values, shaped by her multicultural experience, offers a fresh perspective on timeless questions.
Royal Table: Parenting Rules from the Palace
Central to Marie-Chantal’s philosophy is the importance of shared meals. “I’ve always believed that family meals are one of the key pillars of life. It’s at the table that we talk, listen, and learn from each other,” she explains. Breakfast, in her view, holds special significance, symbolizing a new beginning each day and offering a chance to be together in a calm setting before the daily rush begins.
Their family has one unbreakable rule: no phones at the table. This “golden standard” keeps the focus where it belongs—on real conversation. “The real gift isn’t a perfectly packed lunch or a tidy room; it’s undivided attention,” the princess emphasizes. Amusingly, it’s now the children who remind their parents to put away their gadgets if they forget the family agreement.
The princess is very cautious about the influence of social media and admits she loves seeing her children with a book in their hands. To protect time for ‘peace and curiosity,’ she has sometimes resorted to drastic measures. Marie-Chantal revealed a small family secret: when the children were younger, she and her husband would sometimes simply turn off the Wi-Fi at home. ‘It wasn’t punishment. We did it to preserve a space for real presence. Sometimes the greatest luxury is silence,’ she shares.
Memories of the Queen and the Modern Monarchy
Marie-Chantal’s life, having grown up in Hong Kong and educated in Switzerland, Paris, London, and New York, has been filled with encounters with remarkable people. One of her fondest memories is connected to the late Queen Elizabeth II, to whom the Greek royal family was closely related. The princess shared a funny story: ‘All the children came down to greet her. Aristides was about three years old and came out without his slippers. She looked at him and smiled, saying, “No slippers?” I was mortified, but she was so kind.’ A couple of days later, Marie-Chantal received a handwritten note from the Queen, which she describes as ‘beautiful and very personal.’
Reflecting on her title, the Crown Princess notes that she strives to balance tradition and modernity while staying true to herself. “Titles come with expectations, but I’ve always believed that respect, humility, and kindness matter more than any status,” she says. In her view, the role of a princess has changed dramatically. She dispels the myth that royal life is all about “pomp and privilege.” “We have no political power, but we can use our voices to inspire, support, and serve,” concludes Marie-Chantal.
Greece in the Princess’s Heart
Although the much-discussed move to Athens never happened, their bond with Greece remains unbreakable. A few months ago, Marie-Chantal and her family managed to restore their lost Greek citizenship, marking an important milestone. Asked to describe the country in five words, she chooses: “Kind. Loving. Warm. Beautiful. Wise.”
Her vision of Greece is shaped by vivid images: “endless sea, golden sunlight, an ancient mountain village, the pine forests of Epirus, and a century-old olive tree.” This poetic portrait reflects her family’s deep attachment to a country whose crown they formally bear.
Incidentally, before her marriage, Marie-Chantal Miller was known as the daughter of American billionaire and Duty Free Shoppers co-founder Robert Warren Miller. Her wedding to Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece in 1995 became one of the most extravagant society events of the decade. In addition to her royal duties, Marie-Chantal is the founder and creative director of the successful luxury children’s clothing brand Marie-Chantal. The couple has five children: daughter Maria-Olympia and four sons—Constantine-Alexios, Achileas-Andreas, Odysseas-Kimon, and Aristidis-Stavros. Despite the abolition of the monarchy in Greece in 1974, the family continues to use their royal titles.
