Yugoslavia (Serbia) – Interview with Crown Prince Alexander

Vecernje Novosti

Author: Marko Lopusina

HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER ABOUT THE BURIAL OF HIS ANCESTORS IN MAY

I WILL FULFILL THE LEGACY OF MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER

THE REMAINS OF HM QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND HM QUEEN MARIA WILL BE AT THE ROYAL CHAPEL IN DEDINJE UNTIL THE FUNERAL

The Royal Family of Karadjordjevic has recently officially announced on its website that the state funeral of King Peter II, Queen Alexandra and Queen Maria, who had lived and died in exile, will be conducted on Sunday, 26 May at the Church of Saint George in Oplenac. As we were told at the Royal Palace, Crown Prince Alexander II is currently putting a great effort into organising the funeral of his father, mother and grandmother, and later on his uncle Andrew, at. the Royal mausoleum.

− Her Majesty Queen Alexandra was buried at the cemetery of the Tatoi Palace Royal Cemetery near Athens, and Her Majesty Queen Maria isburied at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore, which adjoins Windsor Castle. The remains of my mother and grandmother will arrive in Serbia in April. They will be laid at The Royal Chapel in Dedinje compound, where the remains of my father, His Majesty King Peter II already are laid. This funeral will fulfill the legacy of my great-grandfather King Peter I who wanted all the Karadjordjevics to rest in one place - said exclusively for the "Vecernje Novosti" Crown Prince Alexander.

The head of the Royal Family was born on 17 July 1945 in London, at "Claridges" where his parents lived in exile. The British government declaredsuite 212  Yugoslav territory. His godparents were King George VI and his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen of Great Britain. It wasthanks to Queen Elizabeth that the Karadjordjevic family managed to survive the exile. The first to retreat to England was Queen Maria, who, after thetragedy in Marseilles, where on 9 October 1934 King Alexander was assassinated, lived in retirement in a modest  apartment in London.

− It was a painful and difficult time for her – The Regency era, the rise of fascism, the political intrigue in Yugoslavia, war and very traumatic exile toLondon. I visited my grandmother many times in London. She was always very gentle with me. I was 16 when she died. My father and my mother, my uncles, Prince Paul and Princess Olga were all at her funeral. I remember vividly going to the private Burial Ground at Frogmore, where my grandmother was buried next to her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert – recollects Crown Prince Alexander.

Crown Prince was schooled in Switzerland, then Military Academy Culver in Indiana, United States, Gordonstuon School in Scotland. After he enrolled in Royal Military Academy of Great Britain and then British army as an officer. His uncle Tomislav was putting him through school since his parents were separated. Crown Prince recalls in dear memories the life with his parents

- When I was a child, my parents lived in London at first, then France, Switzerland, Italy, United States. In exile my father was persecuted by longing for his country, his family and people. He longed to return to his roots. He loved his country, where he spent a happy youth. With joy he was showing me the home in Dedinje with excitement and showed me a picture of Oplenac. The father was hurt by false stories of him that were spread throughout our homeland. King Peter II never abdicated and never took no royal treasures. Neither artwork from the court. I'd like to know where are the missingworks of art that used to be the Royal Palace - now Crown Prince asks.

For the First time Crown Prince Alexander speaks for public about his life during the separation of his parentsin 60’s:

-My parents never divorced. They had difficult times, but always came back together. There was a lot of intrigue and games around my parents. I would visit my parents often in different places where they lived and we were a happy family. 

By death of his father King Peter II died in in Denver 1970^th, Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic became the new Serbian king.

-As heir to the throne-I decided not to use the title of king - says Prince - I believed that it would be pointless in exile. At the same time I was very clear in that time not to waive my rights and titles, or dynastic right to the crown. And then, as now, I sincerely believe that the only way for Serbia is to become a Parliamentary constitutional monarchy. My role as King would be fixing up the image of Serbia in the world, mainly through lobbying or through acquaintance with foreign leaders. Every Serbian government needs to know they can count on me – he says about his status, Crown Prince Alexander.

In 90’s Queen Alexandra died Crown Prince’s mother and descendent of Greek Royal Family:

- I was very sad and emotional. I am glad to say that my mother, Queen Alexandra will soon be transferred to Serbia. Her remains will be presented next to my father in the Royal Chapel – says the Crown Prince who has been living in the Royal Palace since 2001.

- When we moved in 2001 to the Royal Palace, I had to sell our property in London in order to obtain necessary refurbishments and maintenance. By mid-2004 when the Royal Compound was returned to the State budget, Karadjordjevic family financed it up keeping – says Aleksandar Karadjordjevic. The transfer of the royal family remains back to Serbia for many represents gathering in unity of church, state and the dynasty.

I am strictly fulfilling the legacy of my great grandfather. Oplenac is truly a beautiful and special place.  There are some that think that this is a big step forward to national and historic reconciliation. All great events harbor great work. The return to homeland of my father, mother, grandmother and possibly uncle Andrej is one of those historic endeavors. Joint commitment of government, the church and the Royal House is completely natural.

- I wish to extend my gratitude for support understanding and help to President Tomislav Nikolic and all members of The State Reburial  and transfer Committee-said for “Vecernje Novosti” Crown Prince Alexander

SKIING CHAMPION

I love sports, especially skiing and diving. During military career I was a ski champion. Lately I play tennis and dive with special pleasure in exotic seas – reveals Crown Prince Alexander.

NO COMPENSATION

The funeral with state honors is in itself a significant event.  We do not need anyone to apologize for the fact that we celebrate and honor history. Again, the event cannot be an excuse for not doing some other serious and important things.

EXCITING FIRST TIME IN SERBIA

 - My first arrival to Serbia with my family in 1991 was packed with great emotions. Several tens of thousands citizens welcomed us and I was much moved. It was a dream come true and corner stone of my life.

Monaco – Official Biography of Princess Caroline omits her first marriage

The Princely Family's website has an interesting biography of Princess Caroline of Monaco (aka HRH the Princess of Hannover).

I find it surprising that her first marriage to Philippe Junot, a French playboy with a plethora of amorous conquests, is not mentioned at all!

Princess Caroline, Louise, Marguerite, was born in the Princes Palace, on January 23, 1957.

She received her French Baccalaureat (high school or A level) degree in 1974 with honors and continued her studies at the Sorbonne in Paris where she received a diploma in Philosophy and minors in Psychology and Biology.

She speaks French, English, German, Spanish, and Italian.

In her free time she loves to ride horses, swim, snow and water ski.

During her youth she took ballet lessons at the Marika Besobrasova School of Dance in Monte-Carlo and studied both piano and flute.

In 1979 Princess Caroline was appointed by Her Father and Her Mother, to become the President of the Monegasque Committee for the International Year of Children.

The Princess is sympathetic to the needs of distressed youth and in 1981 founded the association Jeune J'Ecoute. The association has set up a 'youth hotline' where troubled youngsters can talk about their problems on the telephone with qualified people trained in dealing with all sorts of problems that are facing kids today.

Since April 1983, she has been the Honorary President of the Guides de Monaco, which became the l'Association des Guides et Scouts de Monaco in 1992. The Guides are the equivalent to the Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. As a youth she participated in the Guides and benefited from their activities.

Outside of Monaco Princess Caroline has also extended her High Patronage to the 'Peter Le Marchant Trust' located in England, which organizes free barge trips for the handicapped.

Prince Rainier III appointed Princess Caroline by decree on December 17, 1982 as the President of the Garden Club of Monaco, President of the Organizing Committee of the Festival of Monte-Carlo Arts and later renamed the Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo (Springtime Arts of Monte-Carlo) in 1984. It was also his decision she become the President of the "Princess Grace Foundation".

During a press conference in Paris in 1985 Princess Caroline officially announced the creation of the Ballet of Monte-Carlo realizing the wishes of her mother Princess Grace.

Then on March 4, 1988 Prince Rainier III appointed Her Serene Highness by decree as the President of the Board of the "Prince-Pierre Foundation". She has also been the President of the Literary Board of the same foundation since 1988. In 1992 she was appointed the President of the Artistic Board of the Prix International d'Art Contemporain (International Contemporay Art Prize).

In April 1993 Princess Caroline was appointed the President of l'AMADE Mondiale (Association Mondiale des Amis de l'Enfance) or (Worldwide Association of Children's Friends), Princess Grace created this charitable organization in 1963 to protect children from physical and psychological abuse.

On December 2nd, 2003, UNESCO Director General Koïchiro Matsuura has appointed Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in recognition of Her personal commitment to the protection of children and the family, and of Her contribution to the promotion of UNESCO's programmes for the education of girls and women.

Princess Caroline married Stefano Casiraghi in 1983.

The couple had three children two boys and one girl : Andrea, Albert, Pierre Casiraghi who was born June 9, 1984, Charlotte, Marie, Pomeline Casiraghi who was born on August 3, 1986 and Pierre, Rainier, Stefano Casiraghi who was born on September 5, 1987.

In October 1990 her husband Stefano was killed in a boat race.

In January 1999 the Princess married His Royal Highness Prince Ernst of Hanover in the Princes Palace. This union resulted in the birth of Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover on July 20, 1999.

http://www.palais.mc/monaco/palais-princier/english/h.r.h.-the-princess-of-hanover/biography/biography.388.html

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Prussia – A Hohenzollern Pastor

Doing a daily news check, I came across this piece, which I have translated using GoogleTranslate and my editing:

Birkenwerder (MOZ) – timid applause is heard, as the children sing. The strain differs from the face of the new pastor. Kiril Philip Prinz von Preussen has just finished his sermon, his six children sing polyphonic an English hymn and the congregation claps grateful. It was a long journey to this moment on Sunday afternoon, as the Prinz von Preussen in his position as pastor of the Lutheran congregation of Birkenwerder (Oberhavel) is introduced.

(His choice, apparently, caused much concern among the flock) There had been four appeals against the election of the 44-year-olds. They were rejected for legal reasons by the Council of Churches of the Evangelical Church of Berlin's North-East district.

The great-great-grandson of the last German emperor is controversial for his statements and writings. He writes for the conservative weekly magazine "Junge Freiheit", referred to by political scientists as the "voice of the New Right with a bridge to extremism." In a television broadcast with Frank Plasberg Pastor Prinz von Preussen has spoken publicly in the past year for the restoration of the monarchy. Also, due to his consistent stance against abortion, he is criticized.

Philip Prinz von Preussen feels unfair prejudiced. Yes - he suports the protection of all life and does so based on the Fifth Commandment: "Thou shalt not kill." And no - he was not in principle hostile to women and not against women in the priesthood. Also he is concerned about ecumenism - the exchange between the Christian churches.

The congregation of Birkenwerder now is still divided. About 30 community members have re-registered or retired from active church life, it is said by critics of the new pastor. "I cannot imagine that my son is confirmed by the Prinz von Preussen," says a woman who has found a new spiritual home in the neighboring town of Borgsdorf. Numerous members of the church choir have also left the congregation. The reason lies not only in the choice Philip, but also by problems faced by his predecesor, Pastor Kroll, who was the complete opposite from the new pastor. In his youthful exuberance, Kroll even jumped on the altar during the sermon. That was just "too much" for some members of the congregation!

Yet, the sound of wrangling has been quite loud in recent months. Heike Richter, the deputy superintendent who Pastor Philip into office, says that the people have to be willing to give the young pastor a chance. PhilipPrinz von Preussen declared, "We have had a lot of wrestling with each other - but they will return," as he breathes deeply and smiles around the table.

http://www.moz.de/artikel-ansicht/dg/0/1/1115915/

© MZV

Pastor Philip Kiril Prinz von preussen

The reader may recall where Philip Kiril Prinz von Preussen fits in the Hohenzollern Dynasty. He is the only son of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia and of his first, and morganatic wife, the late Waltraut Freydag (1940-2010).

Friedrich Wilhelm's marriage to his first wife (he has been married twice more since the couple's divorce and has three children from his second wife) not only caused deep concern to monarchist supporters of the Hohenzollerns, but also seriously affected his parents, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia and his wife Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia. She died, from a stroke, just seventeen days after her eldest son's shocking marriage and while visiting her brother's French home, Ker Argonid, in St. Briac-sur-Mer.

Philipp Kiril was born without dynastic rights to the Prussian throne, as were also his siblings. He is married to Anna Christine Soltau and they have six children, two sons and four daughters.

UK: The Wales' in Jordan

We get lots of quality British royal time, but what about the chic queens and princesses abroad? Thankfully Queen Rania is out and about these days, spending time with the Duchess of Cornwall in Jordan.

Camilla and Prince Charles (oh yeah, he's there too) are in the midst of a royal tour of the Middle East, kicking off the trip with a three-day stay in Jordan. The trip is intended to bolster diplomatic relations between Jordan and Great Britain, but also gives us the fun perk of checking out what Queen Rania's been wearing lately -- she is, after all, a HuffPost Style fave.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/queen-rania-dress-royal-photos_n_2859228.html?utm_hp_ref=style&ir=Style

The Duchess of Cornwall and Queen Rania of Jordan

(Photo: ©Getty)

Sweden: More on Princess Lilian's Death

STOCKHOLM -- She was one of the better kept secrets of Sweden's royal household: a commoner and divorcee whose relationship with Prince Bertil was seen as a threat to the Bernadotte dynasty.

In a touching royal romance, Welsh-born Princess Lilian and her Bertil kept their love unofficial for decades and were both in their 60s when they finally received the king's blessing to get married.

Lilian died in her Stockholm home on Sunday at age 97. The Royal Palace didn't give a cause of death, but Lilian suffered from Alzheimer's disease and had been in poor health for several years.

She met Sweden's Prince Bertil in 1943, but his obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner prevented them from making their love public. The couple's sacrifices and lifelong dedication to one another gripped the hearts of Swedes.

"If I were to sum up my life, everything has been about my love," the witty, petite princess said of her husband when she turned 80 in 1995. "He's a great man, and I love him."

Born Lilian Davies in Swansea, Wales, on Aug. 30, 1915, she moved to London at 16 to embark on a career as a model and an actress, showcasing hats and gloves in commercials and taking on small roles in movies. She met British actor Ivan Craig, whom she married in 1940.

After World War II broke out, Craig was drafted into the British army while Lilian stayed behind in London, working at a factory making radio sets for the British merchant fleet and serving at a hospital for wounded soldiers.

At the time, Prince Bertil was stationed at the Swedish Embassy in the British capital as a naval attache. The couple first laid eyes on each other in the fancy nightclub Les Ambassadeurs shortly before Lilian's 28th birthday in 1943. Lilian then invited him to a cocktail party in her London apartment. But it wasn't until he fetched her with his car following an air raid in her neighborhood that the romance blossomed, Lilian recalled in her 2000 memoirs, "My Life with Prince Bertil."

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/10/princess-lilian-dead-sweden-welsh-born_n_2849340.html

Princess Lilian of Sweden

Princess Lilian of Sweden

 Prince Bertil and Princess Lilian of Sweden

Princess Lilian of Sweden

UK: Diaries of The Prince of Wales (Edward VII)

King Edward VII (1841-1910) enjoyed the company of countless mistresses throughout his married life, yet after 60 years as heir to the throne, he only ruled as king for nine years. But what was Queen Victoria’s eldest son like as a young man?

A journal he kept during a trip through southern Europe and the Middle East in 1862 reveals Edward — who was 20 years old and the Prince of Wales at the time — was fascinated by travel, culture, and not surprisingly, women.

On Friday, the British Royal Collection Trust published online the young prince’s handwritten diaries to mark the opening of “Cairo to Constantinople: Early Photographs of the Middle East,” an exhibition of works by British photographer Francis Bedford, who accompanied Edward on his journey.

As the first photographer to be embedded on a royal tour, Bedford documented the group’s travels through Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon and Greece. He watched as the 20-year-old Prince of Wales met with rulers and politicians from far-off lands, documenting the trip in a collection of photos that have not been displayed together in public since Bedford’s debut exhibition in 1862. The photos he took of the young prince are some of the earliest shots ever taken of a member of the Royal Family.

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Read more: http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/09/royal-diaries-reveal-the-life-of-edward-vii-in-the-1800s/#ixzz2NAJVWJ00

©Eurohistory Archive

+ Princess Lillian of Sweden (1915-2013)

HRH Princess Lilian of Sweden (née Davies), widow of Prince Bertil (1912-1997), himself an uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf, passed away at home today.

http://www.kungahuset.se/royalcourt/royalfamily/latestnews/latestnews/hrhprincesslilianhaspassedaway.5.4ea495e313c19c119aa3326.html

Foto: Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix

Spain: A Right Royal Mess

The elderly man who sold me my apartment was clear about Spain's King Juan Carlos. "He is a traitor," he said.

That was more than a decade ago, and it was a shocking – almost blasphemous – thing to say. Only diehard republicans and even harder-headed former Francoists criticised the monarch. Heliodoro was one of the latter, an unreconstructed extremist who never forgave Juan Carlos for using the powers he received from General Francisco Franco in 1975 to usher in democracy. Few would have agreed.

These days, however, Madrid seethes with discontented talk about the monarchy. The upset is proportional to the awed respect once accorded by almost everyone, including journalists who decided Juan Carlos was untouchable after he stopped a coup when civil guardsmen stormed the parliament in 1981.

As the 75-year-old monarch lies in a hospital bed this week, recovering from his fourth operation in 10 months, there is talk of both abdication and of controlling his use of taxpayers' money. The king is not as weak in mind or body as Pope Benedict, but in Madrid there is also a feeling that an old institution needs shaking up – possibly with a new face.

How did it get to this? The hard-working king with the common touch was onceEurope's most popular monarch – a virtuous contrast to Britain's distant and dysfunctional royals. I recall once getting lost and driving freely through the deer park surrounding his modest Madrid palace. The royal guards were completely unconcerned when I eventually reappeared in the wrong place.

Yet, as Spaniards endure double-dip recession, government austerity and 26% unemployment, royal privileges suddenly seem less understated. The king's luxuriesare beginning to grate.

Reminders of the royal lifestyle were plastered all over newspapers again this week. Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, a stylish 48-year-old who uses a German ex-husband's title to call herself "princess", gave several interviews about her relationship with the monarch. This, she assured doubting Spaniards, was purely professional. She complained, indeed, that his family scandals were now damaging her business as a go-between in deals involving companies and governments – including in the oil-rich Middle East. "This is doing a lot of damage to my professional reputation," she said.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/04/spain-king-juan-carlos-scandal/print

©Eurohistory

Royal Europe: The Last Meeting of the "Heirs'

Last month Europe's royal heirs traveled to the Netherlands for a visit to Apeldoorn, where the Prince and Princess of Orange hosted them.

Present were, from left: Guillaume and Stéphanie of Luxembourg, Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Princess and Prince of Orange, the Duchess and Duke of Brabant, and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.

Absent from the gathering of this very exclusive group were: Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway (a shopping spree in NYC kept her from this historica event), Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (busy on official business), and Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein. No one represented Monaco since the principality's rulers lack any children and the succession is unclear.

https://www.facebook.com/Kungahuset

©Jeroen van der Meyde/RVD

Romania – Royal Orders Conferred

On Thursday, February 28, 2013, HRH Crown Princess Margarita, in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Radu and Prince Nicholas of Romania,  decorated several national and international personalities.

Crown Princess Margarita, on behalf of His Majesty the King, conferred the "Crown Order of Romania – Knightly level" to Ms. Liana Greavu, Mr.. Catalin Popescu, Mr. Sebastian Brinzas, Mr.. Andrei Dumitriu, Mr.. Dinu Zamfirescu Ms. Catherine Sofianou, Mr..Andrew Pippidi, Bishop Sophronius, Master Nicholas Licaret, Ms. Doina Uricariu, Ms. Danielle Nobs and HSH Prince Wenceslas of Lobkowicz.

During the same ceremony, HRH conferred the royal decoration "Nihil Sine Deo" to  Master Victor Rebengiuc, Mr.. Dr. Raed Arafat, Mr. Michael Flaks, Maestro Cristian Badea, Mr. Vladimir Zamfirescu, Princes Anne de Ligne and Marquis Olivier de Trazegnies.

The ceremony was followed by an extraordinary concert of the Royal Choir, composed of young talented students from the Faculty of Music in Bucharest. During the ceremony from The Peles Castle, Royal Choir received the High Patronage of HRH Prince Radu.

http://www.familiaregala.ro/news/3491/53/Decorari-la-Castelul-Peles/

©http://www.familiaregala.ro/