Helen of Greece and Denmark - Queen Mother of Romania

In September 1940 Michael was restored to the throne. Now aged eighteen, he recalled his mother to Romania. She received the designation Queen Mother of Romania (Regina-mamă Elena). During World War II she devoted herself to the care of the wounded. For her efforts to rescue Romanian Jews from the Nazi Germans, she was awarded the status of Righteous Among the Nations.

As a cousin of the bridegroom, she was a leading guest at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

In December 1947 Michael was forced to abdicate. Helen returned to San Domenico, at Villa Sparta. Later she lived at Lausanne and Florence.

Helen died at the age of 86 in Lausanne in 1982.

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