1.
TOP V. PAN. Prince Maximilian arrives at Grand Hall accompanied by three royal ADCs bearing a crown, sceptre and sword.
0.04

2.
TOP V. King and Queen.
0.07

3.
TOP V. The relics on cushions.
0.10

4.
S.TOP V. Ditto.
0.13

5.
TOP V. King and Queen.
0.16

6.
TOP V. Prince Maximilian explains reason for the donation of the relics.
0.19

7.
STV. Ditto.
0.22

8.
TOP V. Dignitaries.
0.25

9.
TOP V. Crown is placed on table.
0.32

10.
CTV. Queen Frederika.
0.35

11.
TOP V. Sceptre and sword on table.
0.40

12.
STV. Relics on table.
0.44

13.
TOP V. King expresses thanks.
0.47

14.
CTV. Ditto.
0.50

15.
TOP V. King shakes hands with Prince Maximilian.
0.56



Initials TDH/S/MR/CW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: During an official ceremony held in the Grand Hall of Ceremonies of the Royal Palace, Athens, Greece, Dec 20, Prince Maximilian of Bavaria presented King Paul of the Hellenes with the Sceptre, Sword and Crown of King Otto - first King of Greece after the country's liberation from the 15-19th century Ottoman occupation.

The relics are being returned by Duke Albrecht, father of Prince Maximilian, and head of the House of Wittelsbach - rulers of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918 - in whose custody they have been since the 1862 deposition of King Otto during a military revolt.

After almost 350 years of domination by the Ottoman empire, Greece was declared an independent kingdom by the convention of London (May 7, 1832.) and Prince Otto, son of King Ludwig 1 of Bavaria was declared king. King Otto's despotic rule, and his employment of Bavarian advisers and troops to the exclusion of Greeks, was unpopular. Two subsequent revolutions forced him to reverse this procedure in the first instance, and deposed him in the second.