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| Times July 18, 1945 |
A happy, happy birthday to someone I consider a friend: HRH Crown Prince Alexander, who celebrates his 80th birthday today. The Crown Prince was born on July 17, 1945, in Suite 212 in Claridge's Hotel in London. The room was declared to be Yugoslavian territory.
I met HRH when I was writing my book, Queen Victoria's Descendants. In the early 1980s, I traveled from my home in New Jersey to Washington, D.C., to conduct an interview with him. At the time, few believed that the Soviet bloc would fall like a house of cards. Yugoslavia was not a part of the Warsaw Pact, but it was a Communist dictatorship, nonetheless.
One of my final comments to the Prince was this: I believe you will live in a palace in Belgrade, and I expect a dinner invitation?"
Fast forward to 2001, when Alexander's citizenship was restored, and he and his wife, Crown Princess Katherine, along with his three sons from his first marriage to Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Bragança, moved to the Royal Palace in Dedinje, Belgrade.
Four years later, Crown Prince Alexander celebrated his 60th birthday with a grand party. The guests included the King and Queen of Sweden, as well as the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Prince Serge and Princess Eleanor of Serbia, the Duke and Duchess of Braganza, Princess Chantal of France and her husband, Baron Axel de Samboucy, Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Braganca, Prince Philippe and Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, among others, and I.
Crown Prince Alexander said to me: You got your dinner invitation. In 2010, I returned to Belgrade for the 25th wedding anniversary of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Three years later, I was a guest at the State Funerals for King Peter II, Queen Alexandra, Queen Marie, and Prince Andrej.
Trust me when I say: it is a privilege to know His Royal Highness. When Queen Elizabeth II was in D.C. for a State visit in 1991. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were invited to the Garden Party at the British Embassy. I also received an invitation, and I found myself standing next to them when the Queen stopped in front of us. Crown Prince Alexander spoke to the Queen, addressing her as "Lilibet." She was his godmother.
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| @Marlene A Eilers Koenig |
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| @Marlene A Eilers Koenig |
The Crown Prince's office issued a press release yesterday.
CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER’S 80th BIRTHDAY
Belgrade, 16 July 2025 – Tomorrow, on 17 July 2025, HRH Crown Prince Alexander will celebrate his 80th birthday. Born in exile, stigmatised as the enemy of the state when he was barely two years old, he overcame difficult obstacles on his path, one that was set for him to continue by his ancestors, members of the Karadjordjevic Dynasty.
As often said, being a Royalty is not measured in power, but in purpose.
His Royal Highness extends his gratitude to everyone who will share the joy of this day with him and shares his birthday message: “Years are just numbers, so I don’t give much attention to counting birthdays. However, over the past eight decades, I have witnessed a great deal. I have also noticed how much not being united causes problems and trouble, and how it can destroy a nation and its future. That is why my birthday wish is for the people of Serbia to come together and focus on shared values rather than their differences. The future can only be built on harmony, mutual respect, and joint efforts. Our ancestors have taught us that. We must be worthy successors of their work and heritage.”
Crown Prince Alexander’s life story serves as a reminder of a person dedicated to serving the people and homeland, regardless of the difficulties and challenges that lay ahead. Part of this legacy is documented by a short biographical film, titled “On the Trail of Kings’ Heritage”.
His Royal Highness invites everyone to watch the premiere on the Royal Family's YouTube channel, as well as on social media, on Thursday, 17 July at 11:00 AM (Serbian time).
As the viewers will see in the film, serving the people of Serbia and our country with dedication to a better future is the destiny and the highest obligation of each Karadjordjevic. Crown Prince Alexander will continue this path, which has also been taken by all his ancestors, as his highest duty in the years to come.
The birthday film will be premiered on the following links:
Accompanying photos – screenshots from the film
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