This Friday, Zarzuela Palace will host one of the most emotional engagements on Queen Sofía’s calendar. At 1 p.m., King Felipe VI's mother will receive a delegation from the Institution of Humanitarian Merit. The institution is presenting its Grand Cross, awarded posthumously, to Her Royal Highness Princess Irene of Greece. The setting couldn’t be more meaningful. Sofia and Irene, sisters, spent years side by side at Zarzuela; it was there that Irene died this January, at 83.
© Milos BicanskiTo understand what Friday means for Queen Sofía, you have to go back to the beginning. The sisters became each other’s closest confidantes when they were girls. Over the decades, they grew inseparable, each finding in the other unconditional support.
Now, ten months after losing her younger sister, Sofía is preparing to accept, on Irene’s behalf, a recognition of the work that defined so much of her life.
An honor for a life spent quietly helping others
© Getty ImagesThe Grand Cross recognizes the princess’s social and philanthropic work, which was something the princess pursued for most of her life while embracing a low profile. Irene is also being honored with a Diploma of Honor in recognition of her altruism.
The Grand Cross is among the highest distinctions the institution grants. The Institución del Mérito Humanitario was founded in Barcelona in 1999. It’s a nonpartisan, nonprofit association whose mission is to recognize public figures who stand out for their human values and their dedication to others.
The NGO she built
Irene never courted attention, but behind the scenes she carried out decades of important work. In 1986, she founded Mundo en Armonía (World in Harmony), an organization championing social, educational and cultural projects. It also ran initiatives to protect animals and to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people.
That commitment carried her work to Spain, Greece, and India. Through the organization, she helped create schools and medical centers, promoted educational programs, and supported disadvantaged communities. She also paid special attention to music, one of her great passions, by opening training opportunities to young talent.
After 37 years and more than 150 projects backed around the globe, Mundo en Armonía closed at the end of 2023. By then, the princess could no longer oversee its work personally.
A bracelet that said it all
© Europa Press EntertainmentFriday’s ceremony won’t be the first tribute Irene has received since her death, or the first time Sofía has found a way to keep her sister close. This past June, during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Madrid, the queen brought her sister along in spirit. She wore a bangle-style bracelet bearing Irene’s name in capital Greek letters: EIPHNH.
Like Sofía, Irene was a spiritual woman, and she would have treasured the chance to meet the pope.
