In a heartwarming display of familial support, Queen Sofia has temporarily stepped away from her royal duties to be by the side of her gravely ill younger sister, Princess Irene of Greece. The 87-year-old former Spanish monarch was set to receive an award for her invaluable biodiversity conservation work at the Poema del Mar Aquarium in Palma de Mallorca on Wednesday, an event that has now been postponed. Additionally, an honorary doctorate presentation at the University of Las Palmas has been canceled. These decisions come as Princess Irene's condition is described as 'very fragile' and 'critical', as reported by HOLA! magazine. Princess Irene, 83, has been battling progressive cognitive impairment, a condition that has been steadily worsening over the past three years. She resides at Zarzuela Palace, the official residence of the Spanish royal family in Madrid, where she has lived since 1981. The youngest daughter of the late King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece, Princess Irene never married but maintained an exceptionally close relationship with Queen Sofia throughout her life. Their only brother, Constantine II, passed away in January 2023, leaving behind a legacy as the last King of the Hellenes. The recent cancellation of Queen Sofia's engagements highlights the profound impact of her sister's health on the royal family's schedule, as she was previously seen at the funeral of Tatiana Radziwill, a close friend and second cousin, in Paris.
