Former prince dies during Carnival: now his son becomes Prince Carnival

Carnival in Pothuusburg, as Grave is called carnival, took on a black edge last year. During the traditional Graaf evening on Carnival Saturday in a packed party tent on the Loswal, 67-year-old Harrie Greeff unexpectedly died of cardiac arrest. Harrie was a carnival celebrant through and through. In 1982 he was a prince himself. He remained active at the carnival foundation for years.

Last weekend his son Cas de Greeff (30) was unveiled as the new Prince Carnival at the Market in Grave. This carnival he will hold sway over Pothuusburg as Prince Tita the 42nd. “That was quite a difficult and emotional moment,” Cas says about the revelation. “But the party is still celebrated. How nice is it to be able to lead the way in the polonaise?”

Some time ago Cas was asked if he wanted to become a prince. “I was sitting on the terrace of the campsite. I got a call from the committee. Yes, that was doubly so with last year’s carnival still in the back of my mind. I had to think about that for a moment. But that didn’t last long. As a family, we are carnival celebrants through and through. My uncle was a prince in 1972 and my father in 1982.”

He is proud that he has now become a prince following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. “As a little boy I always looked up to the prince. It is a great honor to be asked yourself.”

“I’m looking forward to spending the carnival days mopping around the count to go,” Cas continues. He also dedicates his father with him on a specially made award. “There’s a hot air balloon on it. My father was a pilot,” says Cas. “There is a light in the balloon. A light that burns for him.”

And next year there will be the Graafse Avond again in the same party tent. “Yes, that will be a special moment,” says Cas. “It is such a shame that my father is no longer with us. That is a great loss. He would be very proud.”