The academic career of Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark began in 1935, when he enrolled at the London School of Economics to study anthropology under Bronisław Malinowski and Sir Raymond Firth. Born in 1908 in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, he spent his professional life balancing military service with extensive ethnographic research across Asia.
Military Service and Political Life
A member of the Greek royal family, Peter was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Guards of Denmark in 1934. Following his move to Greece, he joined the 3/40 Evzone Regiment in 1936. During the Second World War, he served as a military officer in the Greek army. His later career included service with the Office of Strategic Services, and he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Following the death of King Paul, Peter asserted a claim as heir presumptive to the Greek throne, contesting the legitimacy of female succession rights granted in 1952.
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Starting in 1937, Peter embarked on research expeditions across Asia, accompanied by Irina Aleksandrovna Ovtchinnikova. His fieldwork spanned Syria, Persia, and British India, with specific investigations conducted in Lahore, Kulu, Leh, and Srinagar. He dedicated significant time to studying the Toda people in the Nilgiris district of South India. His primary academic focus was the study of polyandry, a subject he explored throughout his travels in the region, including periods in Ceylon and Kalimpong.
Personal Life and Recognition
Peter married Irina Aleksandrovna Ovtchinnikova in 1939 at a Danish consulate. His refusal to seek royal permission for this marriage led to his estrangement from his father, Prince George of Greece and Denmark. The couple eventually separated, and Peter died childless in London in 1980. He was buried in the Gentofte Municipality. His professional contributions were recognized with the Companion of the Order of the Bath and the Commander of the Legion of Honour.
Fast facts
- Born: 1908, 16th arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 1980, London
- Education: London School of Economics and Lycée Janson-de-Sailly
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Major Research Interest: Tibetan culture and polyandry
- Burial Site: Gentofte Municipality
- Notable Awards: Companion of the Order of the Bath, Commander of the Legion of Honour
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of his anthropological studies?
He specialized in Tibetan culture and the practice of polyandry.
Did he serve in the military?
Yes, he was a Lieutenant Colonel who served in the Greek army during the Second World War and also worked for the Office of Strategic Services.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Held posts at Office of Strategic Services
- Educated at London School of Economics and Political Science and Lycée Janson-de-Sailly
