April 4, 1953
The funeral for former King Carol II of Romania, who died earlier today of a heart attack, will take place next Tuesday at the Royal Pantheon and the Church of St. Vincent's in Portugal, according to United Press.
Carol is a great-great grandson of the late Queen Maria II of Portugal.
Carol's son, former King Michael, has already sent word that he will not be attending the funeral. Michael, 31, said he was "extremely sorry" about his father's death, but he will not be at the funeral "because he must stay near his wife, who recently gave birth to their third child."
Carol's body, "clad in civilian full dress with the sash of the Grand Order of King Carol I," lay in state in the sitting room of his villa in Estoril. The room has been draped in black, and "dimly lighted by four gilded lamps." His widow, Princess Elena, "stood beside the bier."
Former King Umberto II of Italy and Don Juan, Count of Barcelona, both of whom live in Estoril, came to the villa to pay their respects at the coffin, and offer their condolences to Carol's widow.
The former king had rarely been seen in public except for rare outings to the opera. His last public appearance was on Tuesday when he attended a memorial service in Lisbon for Britain's Dowager Queen Mary.
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