“75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VISIT OF KING PETER II TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND CANADA” EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE WHITE PALACE
Belgrade, June 26, 2017 – The exhibition “75th anniversary of the visit of King Peter II to the United States of America and Canada” was officially opened at the White Palace in Dedinje.
The exhibition was opened by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander, and the event was attended by HRH Crown Princess Katherine, the author of the exhibition Mr. Dusan Babac, famous Serbian painter Mr Cile Marinkovic with wife, members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown, Ambassadors of the United States of America, Australia, Chile, Bulgaria, Mexico, Croatia, other representatives of the diplomatic corps and many other prominent figures from the world of culture and art. The guests had a chance to enjoy refreshments from “Bean and Leaf” company.
"When in 1942 my father, King Peter II, at the invitation from president Roosevelt, visited the United States of America and Canada, the world was on the peak of the Second World War. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia had been occupied for more than one year. Terror, mass crimes, persecutions and suffering engulfed a great part of the planet, and the United States of America were in the initial stage of the war operations against Japan. All allied countries – Great Britain, United States of America and the Soviet Union, fully supported the Royal Yugoslav government in exile. My father spoke at the American Congress as the youngest head of state in history. He tried to secure support and aid for the Yugoslav army in fatherland under General Mihailovic’s command. The American media wrote at length and favourably about this visit. King Peter II was presented as an ally, a representative of a country that fought against the axis forces“, said Crown Prince Alexander in his address.
An interesting setting is a historic “walk” through the cities that King Peter II visited during his 1942 stay in the United States of America, then exchanged messages with the then United States President Franklin Roosevelt, acts signed, photos and numerous other important events.
“The historic visit of King Peter II to the United States of America in 1942 at the height of the Second World War has long been left to oblivion. That is why its 75th anniversary is a great opportunity for the public to recall its significance in a historical context, as an important milestone in the historical relations between our two countries. For the United States and Canada, the visit of King Peter II was very significant, and King Peter II was the youngest head of state who spoke in the United States Congress, the first foreign head of state in the Canadian Parliament, and during his visit he also met with many significant figures of political and public life of the United States of America and Canada”, said Dusan Babac, the author of the exhibition.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 27 June to 7 July, on working days, at 11:00 am or 2:00 pm.
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