News sources report today the death of King Ferdinand of Roumania, whose life came to an end at 2:15 a.m. He died in his wife's arms at Sinaia. His grandson, 5-year-old Michael, the son of the former Crown Prince Carol and his estranged wife, Helen, succeeds to the throne in a pre-arranged regency.
Carol remains secluded in Paris and will not make an attempt to return to Roumania as the government has secured the country's borders. The King, who had been ill for some months, was in a coma for much the day, although he woke briefly early this morning, when he murmured to Queen Marie: "I feel tired."
He closed his eyes, and "death came a few minutes later."
One of the king's final acts was to confirm the government of Ion Bratiniu.
The new king took part in his first ceremonies today. Sitting between his mother, Helen, and the Dowager Queen Marie, the little boy rode in an open car that wended its way through Bucharest. Crowds cheered the new king. After attending a brief religious service, King Michael was escorted to the National Legislature, where he sat on a "throne-like chair" between his mother and grandmother. His "chubby face was wreathed in boyish grins." Princess Helen and Queen Marie were dressed in deep mourning but Michael wore a white sailor suit that "was as conspicuous as a fleck of sunshine amidst dark shadows."
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The three members of the regency, including Michael's uncle, Prince Nicholas, came forward to swear their allegiance and fidelity to the new king.
Arrangements for the funeral are not yet known. All three of the king's daughters, Queen Marie of Yugoslavia, Queen Elizabeth of Greece and Princess Ileana, were all present at their father's deathbed.
The Kingdom will ostensibly be ruled by the regency until King Michael reaches his majority, which will be his 18th birthday. His uncle, Prince Nicholas, is now first in line to the throne.
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