Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Crown Prince Alexander requests return of family members

HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II ADDRESSES SERBIAN STATE OFFICIALS REGARDING THE TRANSFER TO SERBIA OF THE REMAINS OF MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY BURIED ABROAD



Belgrade, 1 February 2012 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II again sent letters to H.E. Mr. Boris Tadic, President of Serbia and H.E. Dr. Mirko Cvetkovic, Prime Minister with a renewed request that the earthly remains of His Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia (father of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II and the last KIng of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia), Her Majesty Queen Maria of Yugoslavia (wife of HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and grandmother of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II), Her Majesty Queen Alexandra of Yugoslavia (wife of HM King Peter II and mother of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II), His Royal Highness Prince Andrej (youngest brother of HM King Peter II and uncle of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II), His Royal Highness Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, Regent of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Her Royal Highness Princess Olga (wife of HRH Prince Paul) and their son His Royal Highness Prince Nicholas are to be transferred to Serbia and buried with highest state tributes in the Crypt of St. George Church in Oplenac. Another letter was sent to His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, asking for his blessing.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II emphasized in his letter to state officials: "I am not addressing you as a son, a grandson or a relative of the deceased, but I am addressing you as a Serb in Serbia. The personalities of their ranks should not be transferred and buried because of family piety, but should be escorted with official state tributes as a gesture of historical respect, reconciliation and understanding. It is an act of historic importance, and as such should be responsibility of highest elected officials in the State."

4 comments:

Scott Enos said...

I would think that since Queen Alexandra and King Peter II were separated for many years before his death, that her remains should stay at Tatoi in Greece, beside her mother and near her father, King Alexander. Despite the fact that she was Queen of Yugoslavia, she never set foot in the country and didn't the marriage end badly, if I recall correctly?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Alexandra was queen of Yugoslavia even though she never visited the country. The couple were separated for many years, and never divorced. I think the Crown PRince would like to have his parents buried in the same place, which is his right.

Scott Enos said...

True, it is his right of course...and I suppose any son would want to have his parents reunited. By the way, Marlene, I am a huge fan of yours, I've been an amateur royal genealogist for most of my adult life and have so enjoyed your works, especially the Descendants of Queen Victoria books. When I first got the original book back in the 1980s I was SO THRILLED that there was another QVD enthusiast out there. I loved the next editions and the companion volume as well. Your work is always exceptional and your knowledge of Royalty is amazing. Thanks for many years of enjoyment.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Thank you.