Upon his return from Greece on 26 September 1946, King George II resumed his royal duties after a 1946 referendum had preserved the monarchy, despite significant allegations of fraud in favor of his return

. He was greeted by a large crowd and reunited with members of the royal family, including his brother Paul and sister-in-law Frederica

. However, his return came during a period of intense political instability and civil strife in Greece, marked by tensions between communists and royalists

. George II's return was short-lived; he died of arteriosclerosis on 1 April 1947, less than a year after coming back to Greece

. Following his death, his younger brother Paul succeeded him as king

. The period following George II's return and death saw Greece receiving substantial aid from the United States under the Marshall Plan, which helped stabilize the country politically and economically during Paul's reign