The former mansion of exiled King Constantine II of Greece has been put on the market for over £10 million in Hampstead Garden Suburb
The home on Linnell Drive, is near The Bishops Avenue, otherwise known as “Billionaires’ Avenue” due to its hugely wealthy residents.
It features a master bedroom with dressing room, en suite, bathroom and balcony, 12 further bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a large garden and a swimming pool.
Planning permission has also been given for a substantial extension and leisure floor which would provide more than 18,000 square foot of accommodation.
King Constantine lived in the property for 46 years after he was ousted from power in 1967 as part of a military coup.
Tatoi Palace, his home in Greece, was seized after the abolition of the monarchy and subsequently put up for sale in 2013.
Godfather to Prince William and first cousin to Prince Charles, Constantine frequently hosted glamorous parties with the royals in his Hampstead residence, but he and his wife permanently returned to Greece two years ago.
Trevor Abrahmsohn, managing director of Glentree estate agents who are selling the property, said: “I used to live round the corner from the home. We often used to see Princess Diana in the Mercedes convertible which Charles forbade her to buy and Prince William and Harry were often at parties there.”
Bishops Avenue is known for being an area popular with the Greek community and Abrahmsohn said that the house, as with others in the area, was reflective of the Grecian demeanour.
“The house is very understated and the Greek king was very dignified. Greeks like their luxury but everything needs to be quiet and gentle and dignified. Russians and Nigerians seem to like conspicuous opulence and the trappings of materialism but Greeks are just the opposite,” he said.
He added that while the home does need re-modelling the interior of the house is still attractive.
“It’s a very beautiful house with one of the loveliest views over Hampstead Heath extension I’ve ever seen in my 40 years in the business. It has to be bought by someone who wants a country house and craves privacy and yet wants proximity to central London.
“It’s owned presently by a person of no name, but the type of person who’s going to buy it will be a Hampstead Garden Suburb purist. It will not be sold to someone who doesn’t understand its gentle charm and it’s not for someone that is looking to flaunt.”
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