Crown Prince Leka - a second marriage

@Crown Prince Leka

 

Chateau Apponyi is now a four-star hotel in Oponice, Slovakia.  For six centuries, the chateau was the home of the Hungarian noble family, the Counts Apponyi.  Leka's grandmother was the half-American Countess Geraldine Apponyi, who spent part of her childhood at the chateau.

Oponice is the Slovakian translation of Apponyi.

The Crown Prince's daughter, Princess Geraldine, was named for her great-grandmother.

https://www.chateauappony.sk/en/

At the invitation of Slovak diplomat Ľubomír Rehák, Crown Prince Leka and his fiancée, Blerta Celibashi, arrived at Chateau Apponyi on March 6, 2026.   The official announcement did not include the date and place of the actual wedding.

Although the wedding photos were taken at the Chateau, the actual wedding took place in Albania, according to several sources.

They stayed in the Chateau's Géraldine suite, which featured many family photos.  During their stay, the couple toured the chateau's Biblioteca Apponiana, where the librarian displayed a selection of Geraldine's personal books that she had read while staying at Oponice.

Crown Prince Leka and Miss Celibashi were honored with the Tree of Peace Memorial Medal "for respect for historical heritage.  The award was given by the Slovak non-governmental organization Servare et Manere.   The prince planted a Tree of Peace in Oponice Park, commemorating his first visit to Slovakia and the "historical bond between Slovakia and Albania.    The tree was planted with Albanian soil, which Leka had brought with him.   

@Berta C. Photography

The couple was also given a tour of the Oponice church and the Apponyi crypt, where Leka laid a wreath and lit candles in remembrance of his Apponyi ancestors.

 https://www.tofp.eu/crown-prince-leka-ii/

This link includes a Slovakian TV report that mentions the wedding would take place privately in Albania.   This will be Crown Prince Leka's second marriage.  His first marriage to Elia Zaharia was dissolved by divorce in April 2024.  Their daughter, Geraldine Sibilla Francesca Susan Marie, was born on October 22, 2020.