Editing Constantine II of Greece (section)

====12 February 1981====
The first visit of Constantine and the former royal family to Greece took place on 12 February 1981, on the occasion of the funeral of his mother, Frederica. She had died in Madrid on 6 February, and it was the wish of both her and her descendants that she be buried next to her husband in the cemetery of [[Tatoi]]. As soon as Constantine's communication with the government of then Prime Minister [[George Rallis]] about the details of the funeral became known to the press, an intense political dispute erupted. Only six years had passed since the referendum and the controversies between the two sides - pro-royalist and anti-royalist - were still fresh. The opposition even raised the issue of a burial ban, a demand that was clearly illegal but indicative of the polarisation that existed.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=15 January 2023 |title=1981: Το ΠΑΣΟΚ, ο Ανδρέας , η "Αλλαγή" και ο θάνατος της Φρειδερίκης: "Να μην παραστεί κανείς Υπουργός" |url=https://thesocialist.gr/1981-to-pasok-o-andreas-i-allagi-kai-o-thanatos-tis-freiderikis-na-min-parastei-kaneis-ypourgos/ |website=thesocialist.gr |language=Greek |publisher= |trans-title=1981: PASOK, Andreas, "Change" and the death of Frederica: "No Minister should attend"}}</ref> The Rallis government was therefore asked to find a compromise solution.
Although the royal entourage's preference for a [[Lying in state|lay-in-state ceremony]] in [[Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens|Athens metropolitan cathedral]]  followed by a burial in Tatoi, the Rallis government, in the midst of fierce confrontations with the opposition, decided that both the funeral and the burial should take place in Tatoi to avoid the possibility of violent clashes between pro- and anti-royal supporters.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=12 January 2023 |title=Τέως Βασιλιάς Κωνσταντίνος: Η κηδεία της μητέρας του, Φρειδερίκης, είχε ανάψει φωτιές |url=https://www.in.gr/2023/01/12/stories/teos-vasilias-konstantinos-kideia-tis-miteras-tou-freiderikis-eixe-anapsei-foties/ |website=in.gr |language=Greek |publisher= |trans-title=Former King Constantine: The funeral of his mother, Frederica, was a firestorm}}</ref> Constantine and his family could only stay on Greek soil for six hours, as long as they needed to carry out their duties. The former royal family arrived at [[Ellinikon International Airport|Ellinikon airport]] and Constantine disembarked, bent down and kissed the ground.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=13 February 1981 |title=Constantine Returns To Greece for 5 Hours For Burial of Mother |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/02/13/world/constantine-returns-to-greece-for-5-hours-for-burial-of-mother.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |location= |publisher= }}</ref> This token gesture added new fuel to the controversy, with some interpreting it as genuine love of country and others as hypocrisy. The funeral and burial took place under police protection. However, the police were unable to keep the crowds of  supporters of the former king away from the site.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=15 January 2023 |title=Η τελευταία κηδεία στο Τατόι: Η Φρειδερίκη αναπαύθηκε εν πολέμω - Τεθωρακισμένα, βολές του Τύπου και το ΠΑΣΟΚ στα χαρακώματα με την κυβέρνηση Ράλλη |url=https://www.ethnos.gr/history/article/241779/hteleytaiakhdeiastotatoihfreiderikhanapaythhkeenpolemotethorakismenabolestoytypoykaitopasokstaxarakomatamethnkybernhshrallh |website=ethnos.gr |language=Greek |publisher= |trans-title=The last funeral in Tatoi: Frederick rested in war - Armoured vehicles, press shots and PASOK in the trenches with the Rallis government}}</ref>