Royal presence at anniversary of infants’ home
When the young Princess Sofia, now the queen of Spain, completed her schooling, her mother, Queen Frederiki, sent her to study for a year and a half at the Mitera Infants’ Home. This year, as the home celebrates its 50th anniversary, Queen Sofia of Spain was the guest of honor. She embraced her former teacher, talked to her former fellow students, who were there en masse and toured the facilities, talking to the children. The home is a public law organization under the supervision of the Health and Social Solidarity Ministry. Health Minister Nikitas Kaklamanis and Deputy Minister Giorgos Constantopoulos were there in attendance, along with the ministry’s general secretary, Gianna Despotopoulou, who is active in the organization of the Special Olympics, and the head of Mitera, Maro Kontou. On the evening of September 28, Queen Sofia attended a concert at the Athens Concert Hall, along with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his wife Natassa, to watch Dimitra Galani and Lakis Lazopoulos. In his speech, Kaklamanis made special reference to a campaign to boost the foster-parenting program that has already found families for 106 children with serious disabilities. «If there is space in your heart, there is space in your home,» he said. Queen Sofia is a happy mother and grandmother and is awaiting the birth of yet another grandchild from her son, Prince Felipe. As she left for the airport, she said «I’ll be back» – and meant it.
