Peter, Prince of Greece, 1908-1980

Contributed to

A study of polyandry
book chapter 1963

Summary: Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark was a Greek prince, soldier and anthropologist specialising in Tibetan culture and polyandry. Born in Paris and high in the line of succession to the Greek throne, Prince Peter was deemed to have forfeited his succession rights by marrying a twice-divorced Russian commoner, Irina Aleksandrovna Ovtchinnikova. Following his first scientific voyage to Asia, Peter served as an officer of the Greek army during the Second World War. The Prince returned to Asia several more times for his research of Tibetan culture. He strongly protested against the royal family's treatment of his wife. After King Paul's death, he declared himself heir presumptive to the Greek throne, on the pretext that female dynasts had been unlawfully granted succession rights in 1952. Peter eventually separated from his wife and died childless in London. Wikipedia
Gender or Sex: Male [2][3]; Unknown [1]
Born: 1908 [1]; 1908-12-03 [2]
Birth Place: 16th arrondissement of Paris [2]
Died: 1980 [1]; 1980-10-15 [2]
Death Place: London [2]
Country: France [1]; Greece [1]; Denmark [1]
Occupation: anthropologist [2]; military personnel [2]; military officer [2]
Profession: Ethnologe [1]
Employer: Office of Strategic Services [2]
Educated at: London School of Economics and Political Science [2]; Lycée Janson-de-Sailly [2]
Country of Education: France [2]; United Kingdom [2]

Last updated Jun 12, 2025