Ten members of Greece’s former royal family, which was deposed and exiled 50 years ago, have applied for naturalisation under the family name “De Grece”, the government said on Friday.
However, their choice of surname, which means “of Greece” in French, has annoyed left-wing politicians.
The “request was made in accordance with the law”, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told broadcaster Action 24.
The royal family has mostly lived in exile since 1974 when the military dictatorship fell and Greece returned to democracy.
A referendum confirmed public desire to abolish the monarchy, whose head at the time was Constantin II, with the family then fleeing into exile.
A 1994 law introduced by the socialist government of the time stipulates that the royal family must recognise the 1974 referendum, give up any claims to the former throne, and respect the constitution, in order to be granted citizenship.
The royal family, now led by Crown Prince Pavlos, “has no claims and recognises our country’s democratic rules”, said Marinakis.
But the current left-wing opposition has been angered by the choice of surname.
“When they say that they are giving up their titles and any future claims (to the throne), by opting for this family name they create confusion,” said the Socialist Party.
For the left-wing Syriza party, “the choice of family name is problematic… because the Greek legal order does not recognise titles and nobilities”.
