Prince Alexander of Greece was anything but the typical royal. Unlike his elder brother, he lacked the composed demeanor expected in the palace. Instead, he was a whirlwind of energy, curiosity, and mischief. If modern tabloids had existed in his time, his name would have been a regular feature—not for political intrigue or extravagant tastes, but for his endless streak of pranks and wild antics.
The Playroom Fire Incident
From a young age, Alexander had a fascination with play, though he often took things a little too far. One of his most infamous pranks involved accidentally setting fire to the royal playroom. The exact details remain unclear, but it’s believed that his curiosity about fire—or possibly an early experiment with smoking—led to the chaos. Servants scrambled in panic to extinguish the flames before the situation escalated into a major palace disaster.
The Toy Car Catapult Incident
Perhaps the most legendary of Alexander’s pranks was one that became palace folklore. Always eager for adventure, he devised a rather dangerous game involving his younger brother, Paul. Using a homemade wooden toy car—a cross between a cart and a wagon—he convinced Paul to hop in for a ride.
The plan was simple: he would let the cart roll down a wooden ramp in the playroom. What he hadn’t accounted for was the speed it would gain—or the fact that the track ended rather abruptly. The toy car launched off the ramp, sending young Paul flying from a height of nearly two meters, landing straight into a patch of brambles. Guards and servants rushed to the scene, while the royal family stood in shock. Fortunately, Paul escaped with only a few scratches—and a hard lesson in what it meant to be the younger sibling of a reckless prince.
A Life of Adventure
These were just a few of Alexander’s misadventures. His impatience to grow up led to other antics, such as attempting to smoke cigarettes made from paper towels—perhaps his first attempt at imitating the adults in court. He also had a deep love for speed and adventure, becoming one of the first Greeks to own a car.
Despite his mischievous streak, Alexander was adored. His charisma and boundless energy made him popular both within the palace and among the public. Though his life was short, it was filled with excitement, spontaneity, and a series of unforgettable pranks that became legendary in royal history. He was a prince who simply couldn’t sit still—much to the amusement (and occasional horror) of those around him.
