Friday, June 10, 2011

A son for Prince and Princess Andrew

Embed from Getty Images 
June 10, 1921


Princess Alice of Greece and Denmark gave birth to a son today at Mon Repos on Corfu.  This is the first son and fifth child for Princess Alice and her husband, Prince Andrew, younger brother of King Constantine.

The birth of the infant Prince was not considered newsworthy.  On the day he was born, the New York Times reported that the infant's uncle was planning to depart for Anatolia, which was seen as "the prelude to a new offensive by the Greeks against the Turkish nationalists."    The newspaper noted that the "French government will not help the Greeks," and would if any tears were shed "over the defeat its former ally they will be crocodile tears."   The English suggested that the French give Constantine "aid in artillery," but this request was received "coolly, if not frigidly."

The French do not believe that the Greeks can beat Kemal, and the British "now evidently see their hold on Constantinople in danger."

The King will sail on the battleship Lemnos, formerly the United States battleship Idado, with Prince and Princess Nicholas and Prince Andrew.  [He would be accompanied by Crown Prince George and Prince Andrew and Prince Nicholas.]  On June 14, Prince Andrew was appointed to the command of the Twelfth Infantry Division of the Greek Army and would go to the war's front.

By late July, Prince Andrew led a "brilliant advance" in Asia Minor.

The Times reported on June 14, 1921, that "Princess Andrew of Greece, daughter of the Marquess of Milford Haven, who is staying at Corfu, gave birth to a son on June 12."   This date is incorrect.

The infant Prince was baptized shortly after his birth, according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox church, and was given the name Philip.

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