Belgrade 14th May 2013 – Their Royal Highnesses Prince Dimitri, Princess Lavinia-Marie and Princess Tatiana - Marie of Serbia are delighted to announce that as a result of their recent successful application to the County Court of Grays Lake Illinois United States of America, the mortal remains of their beloved father, HRH Prince Andrej, third son of HM King Alexander I and younger brother of HM King Peter II, will arrive at the Royal Chapel, Dedinje on Wednesday, 15th May.
On Wednesday 15 May 2013 - At Nikola Tesla Airport HRH Prince Andrew Remains will be awaited by his son HRH Prince Dimitri, His daughter Princess Lavinia - Maria and his grandson Mr. Luca Prichard Levy, HRH Crown Prince Alexander, HRH Crown Princess Katherine, HRH Princess Elizabeth, Professor Oliver Antic Special Advisor to President of Serbia and His Grace Vicar Bishop of Hvosno Atanasije with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch of Serbia Irinej.
His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej will conduct a Memorial Service at the Royal Chapel, where the caskets of HRH Prince Andrew’s brother HM King Peter II, his sister-in-law HM Queen Alexandra and his mother HM Queen Maria, are already in place.
Following the Church service a reception for state representatives, Members of the Crown Council and Religious dignitaries will take place at The Royal Palace.
A State Funeral for their re-interment in the Royal Mausoleum of St George's Chapel in Oplenac will be conducted by His Holiness Patriarch Irinej on Sunday 26 May 2013.
HRH Prince Dimitri and the two Princesses said: "This is truly an emotional, extraordinary and momentous event, not only for us as Prince Andrej’s children and the Royal Family, but also for the Serbian nation and Serbs everywhere. The return of our Father completes the jigsaw in the righting of an historic injustice. Our beloved father was always homesick for his homeland, and although this was not possible in life, at last he will join his family in eternal peace on Sunday 26 May in the Royal Mausoleum in Oplenac, where he rightfully belongs with his family and ancestors. We would also like to acknowledge our cousin HRH Crown Prince Alexander, without whom this would not have been possible.
We sincerely believe that only with this unification of all our Karadjordjevic forebears from Karadjordje himself down to the present day generations in their holy resting place in the Royal Family Mausoleum in Oplenac - the lasting legacy of HM King Peter I, The Unifier - can the wounds of our troubled past continue to be healed. Their reburial together on Sunday 26th May means our beloved country can confidently look forward to a happier future with a more peaceful heart. The State Funeral on Sunday 26th May will be a historic moment, both of truth and reconciliation, and great rejoicing – Long live Serbia! (Zivela Srbija!)"
Note: The removal of HRH Prince Andrej's remains from Nova Gracanica Cemetery in Illinois and subsequent transfer to Serbia was performed in full accordance with the legal procedures and administrative requirements of the State of Illinois United States by three of Prince Andrej's children, namely HRH Prince Dimitri, HRH Princess Lavinia-Marie and HRH Princess Tatiana-Marie, after consultations with Prince Andrej's other heirs.
HRH PRINCE ANDREJ BIOGRAPHY
HRH Prince Andrej was born 26 June 1929 in Bled Slovenia and died 7 May 1990 in Irvine California. Prince Andrej was the third son of HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and HM Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, and younger brother of HM KIng Peter II.
After the Royal Family’s exile in 1941, Prince Andrej graduated in Mathematics from Clare College Cambridge and had a career as an insurance broker.
Prince Andrej firstly married HSH Princess Christina of Hesse the daughter of Prince Christoph of Hesse and Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark, out of which marriage were born Princess Tatiana and Prince Christopher (1960-1994).
Prince Andrej’s second marriage was to HSH Princess Kira of Leiningen the daughter of Prince Karl of Leiningen and Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna of Russia. They had a daughter Princess Lavinia-Marie and two sons Prince Vladimir and Prince Dimitri.
Prince Andrej married thirdly Milica Andjelkovic, Princess Eva Maria and had no issue.
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