Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Chrysí Vardinogianni tie the knot after whirlwind romance - as close family and friends attend controversial royal wedding just 10 months after 'playboy' split from Princess Tatiana

Prince Nikolaos of Greece has officially tied the knot with shipping heiress Chrysí Vardinogianni in Athens - just ten months after the end of his 14-year marriage. The 55-year-old - previously dubbed the 'Playboy Prince' by Tatler for his extravagant partying - divorced his previous wife Princess Tatiana in April last year. He wed his new bride at 6pm today in the Greek capital, celebrating with only around 50 of their closest friends and family.

The big day came hot on the heels of divorce for the bride too. Chrysí, the daughter and heiress of Greek shipping tycoon Yiorgos Vardinogianni, only divorced her husband, Greek director Konstantinos Markoulakis, in December 2023. Chrysí stunned in an elegant, fitted gown, wearing her mother-in-law Queen Anne-Marie's Antique Corsage Tiara. The gorgeous heirloom headpiece was a gift to the final Queen of Greece on her 18th birthday. It was also worn by the wives of Nikolaos' two brothers on their wedding days.

The champagne gown, paired with a lace-trimmed veil, had a high neckline and cap sleeves and was made from heavily embellished lace. Her blonde hair was swept up into an effortless updo, with face-framing strands left free, accompanied by a natural makeup look. Prince Nikolaos of Greece and shipping heiress Chrysí Vardinogianni come out of the church after their wedding ceremony today at the Church of Agios Nikolaos Ragavas in Athens.

Chrysí arrives at her wedding with her father, the Greek shipping magnate Giorgos Vardinogianni (left). The couple beamed as they left the church in the in the beautiful hillside Plaka neighbourhood of the Greek capital. Hello Greece previously reported the bride would walk down the aisle in a dress by Greek designer Christos Costarellos - who made Carrie Johnson's bridal gown and counts Meghan Markle among his fans.

The Greek Orthodox ceremony took place in the 11th-century St Agios Nikolaos Ragavas Church in the beautiful hillside Plaka neighbourhood, surrounded by ancient buildings including the Acropolis. The lowkey ceremony was a far cry from Nikolaos' first wedding in 2010 when 370 guests came to the picturesque Greek island of Spetses, including members of European royal houses. The Greek prince - the second son of the late King Constantine of Greece and his wife Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark - left Venezuelan former publicist Princess Tatiana, 44, last year.

Soon after, she received the horrifying news her stepbrother had gone missing. Although their split was said to be 'amicable', she hinted at her personal heartbreak in social media posts discussing her 'year of uncertainty, pain and transformation'. On top of everything else, the Princess - who has kept her royal title - also struggles with anxiety and panic attacks, which she has discussed publicly.

With royal fans rallying around Princess Tatiana in the wake of the divorce, it is perhaps unsurprising that Nikolaos chose such a lowkey approach for his nuptials today. The Greek prince is the second son of the late King Constantine of Greece and Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark (left). He was pictured arm in arm with his smiling mother at his wedding today. Chrysí stunned in an elegant, fitted gown, wearing her mother-in-law Queen Anne-Marie 's Antique Corsage Tiara.

The gorgeous heirloom headpiece was a gift to the final Queen of Greece on her 18th birthday. Hello Greece previously reported the bride would walk down the aisle in a dress by Greek designer Christos Costarellos. The bride's champagne gown, paired with a lace-trimmed veil, had a high neckline and cap sleeves and was made from heavily embellished lace. Yesterday, Nikolaos and Chrysí enjoyed a pre-wedding dinner alongside guests including Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the groom's mother Queen Anne-Marie and Queen Sofia of Spain, as well as Nikolaos' sister Princess Theodora and her American husband Matthew Kumar.

But the bride appeared to shield herself from photographers when stepping out at the party with her groom, seemingly using her long blonde locks to hide most of her face. The fiercely private couple's relationship and engagement was only revealed last month, with the wedding announced shortly after. A statement from the former Royal Family of Greece said: 'On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM, the wedding of Prince Nicholas, formerly Nicholas De Gres, to Mrs. Chryssi Vardinoyannis will take place at the Church of Agios Nikolaos Ragavas, in the presence of close relatives and friends of the family and the couple.'.

Their choice of Athens is traditional for a Greek royal wedding - the prince's parents and his sister have all gotten hitched in the capital. Mother-of-two Chrysí is not as well-known outside Greece but is a household name in her own country. She shares two children - George, 12, and Karen, 11 - with her ex-husband, Greek singer Nino, who she separated from in 2017 after five years of marriage. After this, Chrysí dated the actor Konstantinos Markoulakis for five years. Their split in December 2023 came four months before Nikolaos and Tatiana's shock separation.