Serbia: Day 3 - the Cruise

a view from the boat

King Simeon of Bulgaria and Princess Desiree of Sweden

Crown Princess Katherine

Crown Prince Alexander and me

Prince Nikola, Princess Lavinia, me and Austin Pritchard Levy

Saturday, September 18

On Friday morning, I sat down for a huge breakfast at the Hyatt, which was burned off during the long walk through Belgrade. This morning I wasn't as hungry. I went for a swim, and then decided to check out what I could find open in the area. I had heard that Costa Coffee had opened several shops in Belgrade. Costa Coffee is a UK chain founded by 2 Italian brothers. I love Costa. It is the first place I head to when I get through customs at Heathrow -- and it's right outside the door in Terminal 5. HEAVEN!

I wasn't quite sure where the nearest Costa was, so I wandered down the same street where Victoria Station is located. I found Coffee Dream, a locally-owned coffee shop, where the barista made me a divine vanilla latte. I also tried the chocolate chip muffin. Back to the hotel to change into something appropriately casual for the luncheon cruise on the Danube. I must say I was not the only person wearing Ralph Lauren.

The bus picked us up at 10:45 a.m. Before heading to the marina, we toured the city's sites, many of which I had seen up close the day before. We also passed one street with buildings destroyed during the NATO bombing. The Serbian government has yet to tear the buildings down. Prime real estate, which could be used for something positive. A Costa Coffee shop!

The buses arrived at the marina just as all the cars with the royals arrived, complete with the police escort. (We had one as well.)

The morning was overcast, but warm. Yes, it would have been nicer if the sun had come out, but let's consider the options. Luncheon cruise on the Danube... or cleaning house in Alexandria. I choose the cruise, despite the lack of sunshine.

Luncheon was a pasta buffet with a varied selection, from penne to spaghetti, salads, and breads, washed down with lovely Serbian wine. The desserts, too, were absolutely yummie.

Another interview

Frankfurtske vesti, 19.09.2010.
Ruler by bloodline Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic
We are not an imported dynasty
Prince Alexander II and Princess Katherine, together with family and distinguished guests from Serbia and abroad, marked their 25th wedding anniversary during two days celebration. That was a good occasion for Crown Prince Alexander to talk to “Vesti” about Serbia today and the Karadjordjevic dynasty. The silver wedding anniversary is an important jubilee. What could you tell us about your marriage?

- Wonderful 25 years with Katherine who has been so good to me and the children. We have done so much together and seen a lot. The last 9 years have been extraordinary since I came back to my roots in Serbia and Katherine has valiantly stood by me. Katherine has done so much helping the people of Serbia with her valiant humanitarian work

Having in mind that your sons are of age for marriage, is there another wedding or a baby at the Palace in sight?

- Not yet. The boys are still young.

Next year will be 10 years of your return to Serbia. How would you rate those ten years from the aspect of the Government treatment towards you, and how from the aspect of citizens?

- My relations with both the people and all democratically orientated politicians was always open, sincere and honest. It was like that in 1991 when I first came to Serbia, and it is the same today. Everything that my wife and I have been doing during all this time, is just a confirmation of our attitude. I do not feel any difference in how people treat us now in regards how it was in the past. However, I must admit that my contacts with people from the establishment are not so regular and frequent as they were during 1990s and for some years after the 5 October Revolution. This is a pity, because I know that I can still contribute very much in our mutual struggle for our country’s better future. Sometimes it is easier for me to get in touch with some high ranking people abroad than in my own country, but I hope that it will change for better.

Next month will be 10 years of October 5 revolution, which you have strongly supported even before the changes actually occurred. How far did Serbia go in these 10 years?

- My efforts in the unification of the Serbian opposition in 1990s are still almost unknown in our country, but I never did that for the sake of self promotion, but rather for our country’s democratic future. Unfortunately, after the 5 October Revolution, there was the tragic assassination of my good friend, Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, then the global economy crisis hit hard, not only Serbia but all the countries in the world. Our economy is still very fragile and it depends very much on foreign investments. Attracting these investments should not only be the task for Government officials, but also for all people of good will with good contacts. Certainly there have been some good moments since the 5 October Revolution, but much time has been lost due to lack of unity and planning. It would have been good if the government following the 5 October Revolution had taken on a global PR firm to promote and improve the image of Serbia abroad, it would have been money well spent that would have given us good returns now close to the tenth anniversary of the 5 October Revolution. I would also have hoped for more work on human rights.

Montenegro has passed a law on the status of the Petrovic dynasty. How far is Serbia when it comes to the final resolution of the status of the Karadjordjevic dynasty, and are there any problems and of what kind?

- It is good that the Montenegrin Government intends to define the status of the Petrovic dynasty. However, the first reaction of Prince Nikola indicates that the definition of his status was simplified by granting him a state salary. This is not the point. It is also very difficult to expect any kind of political status given by a country which is a republic. It is not appropriate even in countries which are monarchies, as the monarch must be neutral. However, the domestic dynasties like Petrovic or Karadjordjevic, were the only ones in the Balkans which were not “imported” from abroad. As such, they were always an inseparable part of the people, history, tradition, and it would be a logical extension, to be recognized as guardians of identity, or even if you want, of comparative advantage to other countries in the region within our European Union future. After all, this is the only link of the ongoing broad civic reconciliation which is missing at this moment.

What is the status of Karadjordjevic Palaces in Serbia today, since communists confiscated them and they still belong to the state, concerning investment funding and current maintenance?

- My grandfather, King Alexander I gave the New Palace downtown, today the Presidential Palace, as a donation to the National Museum, and I find this as a noble gesture. The Royal Palace in the Dedinje Compound, which was the residence of my grandfather and father, and the White Palace, which was built with the purpose of being the residence of my father King Peter II and my two uncles Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej, was illegally confiscated in 1947 and has been state property ever since then. It was maintained by the state during Tito, during the regime, and it suddenly stopped in 2001 when I was given the right to use it as the head of the Royal Family. In the period from 2001 until 2004, I financed the maintenance of the Dedinje Compound with my own funds which was extremely difficult. However, the state resumed with the care of its own confiscated property in 2004 and this functioned well until 2008 when something changed. The maintenance of such a historical monument needs constant care and maintenance. I sincerely hope that the people from the Government, despite their priority problems, are able to understand this. I hope that this is only a temporary drawback and that all will be resolved with good faith.

How are the family relationships in Karadjordjevic dynasty today, and especially between direct ancestors of King Alexander I, the Unifier?

- My relations with the descendants of my both uncles, Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej, are both regular and very cordial. We frequently gather in the Dvorski Complex for our Slava St. Andrej and for other occasions, such as the forthcoming wedding anniversary, in London and many other times. However, the media is frequently digging for gossip, and sometimes they come across the members of the parallel branches of the family who have different opinions. The fact that understandably journalists are not aware or comprehend well enough the family structure and history, unfortunately helps this confusion to go on.

How do you regard situation with Kosovo and Metohija at international scene?

Kosovo is another very tragic story. This government inherited almost an impossible situation from the past, and did whatever it could within the frame of international law and diplomacy. I wish there was much more understanding and tact in some countries, as we could have reached a just solution before. It is not the first time in our history, that we stand as small country between great powers with confronted interests. We should learn more from our past, not only from the great battles, but also from our great diplomats such as Despot Stefan, Knez Milos or Nikola Pasic in their time.

English Queen the Godmother
Crown Prince Alexander II Karadjordjevic, the only son to the King Peter II and Queen Alexandra, was born in exile on 17 July 1945 in London. According to dynastic rules of Yugoslavia, the heir to the throne had to be born on Yugoslav territory. The British Government declared suite 212 in Claridge's Hotel, where the Crown Prince was born, Yugoslav territory. His Holiness Patriarch Gavrilo baptized the newborn Crown Prince in Westminster Abbey with Godparents King George VI and HRH Princess Elizabeth (now HM The Queen Elizabeth II).

He was educated in Switzerland, America, Scotland and England. He subsequently went to the British Royal Military Academy and in 1966 was commissioned an officer in the British Army. His tours of duty included West Germany, Italy and Middle East. After leaving the army in 1972, Crown Prince Alexander II pursued a career in international business and got married with Princess Maria da Gloria of the Imperial Family of Brazil in Spain. They have got hereditary Prince Peter was born in 1980 in Chicago and fraternal twin sons Prince Philip and Prince Alexander were born in 1982 in Virginia. First marriage was finished in 1983, and two years later Alexander II married Katherine Batis from Athens, on 21 September 1985. HM King Constantine of the Hellenes was the best man and Prince Tomislav Karadjorjdevic was the witness, at the ceremony at Serbian church in London. Alexander II came to Serbia for the first time in 1991. The Crown Prince has been living in The Royal Palace in Belgrade since 17 July 2001, at the home built by his grandfather King Alexander the Unifier.

the first dinner - more photos

Crown Princess Margarita, Princess Birgitta, and Prince Vladimir of Serbia

This photo shows Crown Princess Margarita, Princess Birgitta, and Prince Vladimir.

Please note - all the photos are my copyright unless otherwise stated.

The first dinner

Princess Lavinia and Austin Prichard Levy

Prince Vladimir and Princess Brigitta - we were having coffee downstairs

Victoria da Silva and Princess Katarina

The royal anniversary weekend began on Friday night, September 16, at 6:45, when the guests, who were staying at the Hyatt, piled onto buses for the police escort to the Royal Palace at the Dedinje Compound. Traffic is a growing problem in Belgrade, and even buses with police escorts can get caught in it.

All the guests went through the receiving line, and each guest posed for a photo with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. From there, we moved into the reception rooms for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. I soon found Princess Katarina, the Crown Prince's cousin, whom I had not seen in two years. It was time to catch up. I also spotted other guests, including two other cousins of the Crown Prince: Prince Vladimir and his wife Birgitta and Princess Lavinia and her husband, Austin Prichard-Levy. I also met Prince Nikola of Serbia and Princess Margarita of Baden for the first time.

Much to my delight, I saw Crown Princess Margarita of Romania and Prince Radu, who accompanied King Michael, who celebrates his 89th birthday in October. King Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria were also in attendance. Other royal guests who arrived in time for the Friday night dinner included Prince Philippe and Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, Princess Desiree of Sweden and her husband, Baron Niclas Silfverschiold, and Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg.

The celebrations began with a display of Serbian folk dances out on the palace's veranda. We were all invited to dinner, which was a buffet of Serbian food and wine. We could choose our own seats, and I was invited to join a table that included King Michael, Crown Princess Margarita, Prince Radu, Princess Katarina, Prince Vladimir, and Princess Birgitta.

A wonderful way to celebrate 25 years

New Palace

Royal Palace (Old) in Belgrade, now the Presidential Palace

I expect (and sincerely hope) that Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine are relaxing somewhere in the sun with their feet up, and enjoying a well-deserved rest.
Well deserved, indeed. This past weekend in Belgrade, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with family and close friends. Me too. 

This was my second trip to Belgrade. I first visited the city in July 2005, when I was invited to attend the Crown Prince's 60th birthday celebrations. I was anxious to see how the city had changed. Serbia has not had an easy path toward democracy and becoming a Western nation. The bombed-out buildings from the NATO attacks have yet to be torn down, but there are also brand-new buildings and two shopping centers in New Belgrade, which is across the river from Old Belgrade. 

Belgrade, Serbia's capital, sits at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers.

I arrived in London on September 14th, delighted to spend a day in my favorite city. I checked into the Hilton and then met up with my friend Paul. I did a little shopping and then treated Paul to lunch at Fortnum's before heading to the V&A for the Princess Grace exhibit. Paul was a good sport, since it was really a chick exhibit for women of a certain age. Then we took a cab to Kensington Palace. Paul headed for the tea shop, and I bought a ticket for the Enchanted Palace tour. I was able to figure out the seven enchanted princesses rather quickly.

Then it was off to the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace for the Victoria & Albert exhibit, where we met up with another friend of mine, Katrina. The exhibit was superb. I could have stayed in the first room for hours and hours, just staring at the fabulous portraits of Victoria and Albert and their family. Oooh. (Incidentally, the Princess Grace exhibit was also superb.)

Paul left for his home in Harlow after we left the exhibit, and Katrina and I headed for Hatchards to browse, and then the stroll, taking the usual route -- hitting all the souvenir kiosks looking for new postcards -- toward Leicester Square to meet Coryne and Colin Hall at Bella Italia ... my favorite restaurant in London.

I managed to stay awake until about 11 p.m. and then headed to bed. The alarm was set for 5:15, which was preceded by a wake-up call from the hotel. I left the hotel by 5:35 and took the Tube one stop to Paddington. Slight problem. I needed to buy a ticket, but no one was in the ticket window. I looked around and called out for help. No response. The self-service ticketing machine said, "Closed." 

It was time to be brazen and walk through the gate and get on the train and be a .... FARE EVADER!!!!!!!

Edgeware Road to Paddington. Walk to the turnstile to confess my sin ... and no one is there ... so I walk through the gate to the ticket window, which was open. I said I was sorry, but I had not paid because no one was available at Edgeware Road. I was willing to pay, ready to pay, but the ticket agent waved me off. He told me he was astounded that a person would actually admit to not paying a fare.

The flight to Belgrade took three hours. The Hyatt shuttle picked me up. The driver was so sweet, and delighted to point out sites en route into the city. He pointed out the new basketball stadium, and I added, with a smile," And who won the world basketball championship! Basketball is very big in Serbia ... Serbian men are very tall -- but the world championship was won by the USA.

The Hyatt is a beautiful hotel in New Belgrade, in what has become the financial district, with sparkling new buildings housing international banks.  But to get to Belgrade proper, one must take a cab... or hoof it, as I did on Friday.

 
Thursday was a rest day and a time to get one's bearings. I walked to a new pet store, Pet Centar, a chain headquartered in Croatia. The store's symbol is a Dalmatian, and those readers who know me will understand why I had to see it. Yes, I did buy pressies for the kitties.

Note to visitors: nearly everyone smokes in Belgrade, and there is no such thing as a smoke-free restaurant. On Thursday night, I had dinner at Victoria Station. Part of the restaurant was originally a railroad car! Since it was a lovely night, I chose to eat outside rather than inside the cigarette smoke.

Day 2 in Belgrade was warm and sunny. After eating a hearty breakfast, I decided to take a stroll into town. I got a map from the concierge, and he was stunned that I planned to walk ... and so I did. I walked across the Branko Bridge, heading toward Kamenicke Street to find the building where Gavrilo Princip, a member of the Black Hand, helped to plan the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The assassination took place in Bosnia, but the planning took place in Serbia. I found a nice young man who spoke English and asked him how to get to the street. He took me to the street. The building is now a betting parlor!

So I walked ... and walked ... all the way to the Cathedral of St Sava, then back toward Knez Mihailova (Prince Michael Street), a pedestrian walkway lined with historic buildings, cafes, and boutiques. It was time to rest, and I found a comfy chair at one of the cafes, ordered an iced coffee, and when I was finished, it was time to continue my walk toward the Kalemegdan, the fortress, where you can see the confluence of the two rivers. I started my walk at 9:30, and when I was ready to head back to the hotel, I noticed it was just after 4 p.m. No time to walk back, so I hailed a cab to go back to the Hyatt. 

I enjoyed a quick swim in the pool before getting ready for the first event at the palace.

Death of the Prince of Hohenzollern

I learned about the death of the Prince of Hohenzollern on Friday in Belgrade. Prince Vladimir of Yugoslavia, who was at my table, told me he had only recently received an email from one of his Leiningen cousins regarding the death of the head of the House of Hohenzollern.
The late prince was married to Princess Margarita zu Leiningen, whose younger sister, Kira, was the second wife of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia.

The Prince of Hohenzollern, who was 86, died on September 16 at his country home in Sigmaringen. He was an industrialist who headed a family business that employs more than 3000 people. His eldest son, Karl Friedrich, now the the Prince of Hohenzollern, will take over the running of the firm.

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm was born on February 3, 1924 at Schloss Umkirch in Freiburg. He studied economics at universities in Freiberg and Geneva, before working for a Basel bank. He was the eldest son of Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern, and his wife, Princess Margarete of Saxony. Schloss Umkirch, which Friedrich had inherited from an uncle, was the young Friedrich Wilhelm's favorite home.

In 1950, he took over the family business, which also includes forests and agricultural land. His son, Karl Friedrich, actually took over the leadership of the firm some years ago. Last year, the company made more than 600 million euros in annual sales.
It was during a trip to Rome in 1950 that he met his wife, Princess Margarita of Leiningen, the daughter of the Prince of Leiningen and Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna of Russia.
Prince Friedrich succeeded his father in 1965. He suffered a stroke in 2002. Although he was blind and confined to a wheelchair, the Prince made regular visits to his office up until a few months ago. "He was never invisible," said one employee.

He is succeeded by his sons, Karl Friedrich, Albrecht, and Ferdinand, and their wives, Katharina, Nathalie and Ilona, and their children, Alexander, Philippa, Flaminia, Antonia, Josefine, Eugenia, Aloys, Fidelis and Victoria. He is also survived by his sisters, Maria Antonia, Countess of Waldburg, and his brothers, Princes Johann Georg and Ferfried.

The funeral will take place on September 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hedinger Kirche in Sigmaringen.

Prince Hubertus weds Baroness

(Photo credit: Anuschka Becker is the copyright holder. These photos cannot be reproduced without her expressed permission.)

Prince Hubertus zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and Baroness Iris von Dörnberg were married on September 18 in a Lutheran wedding at the Walpurgischekirche in Alsfeld, where the bride's family live. As the groom is Roman Catholic, a priest also took part in the ceremony. Approximately 250 guests, representing German and European royal and noble families, attended the service and reception.

According to the Kreis-Anzeiger, the couple have known each other for about 15 years, but a romance only sparked last fall when the two met in Frankfurt. "Then it went relatively quickly," the bride said in a pre-wedding interview.
The couple became in engaged in Rome in May, not long after Hubertus' older brother, the Hereditary Prince Carl Friedrich, was killed in a car crash during a race.

Lady Nicholas Windsor and elder son Albert

The civil ceremony took place on Friday at the town hall in Alsfeld, which was followed by a reception at a local museum. The guest list for these two events was limited to close family and friends.

The bride's mother, Baroness Beatrix von Dörnberg, was one of the first to arrive at the church, where she welcomed the guests. Fifteen minutes before the ceremony began, the groom's parents, the Prince and Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg, arrived at the church. The Prince was shown to his seat in the chancel. It was the Princess, a great-granddaughter of Kaiser Wilhelm, who escorted her son down to aisle to await the bride, who wore a tiara that belonged to Hubertus' family.
After a service that lasted for about 45 minutes, the newly married Prince and Princess Hubertus emerged from the church, and got into a carriage for the ride back to Schloss Herzberg, the bride's home for the reception.

The guest list included the groom's aunts,Princess of Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein and Archduchess Maria of Austria, as well as other members of their families, Lady Nicholas Windsor, and her son, Albert Windsor. The only member of the Prussian royal family to attend the wedding was Prince Franz Wilhelm.  The groom's mother is the former Princess Anastasia of Prussia.

Hereditary Prince Christian zu Fürstenberg ties the knot

Hereditary Prince Christian zu Fürstenberg, 32, married his 28-year-old fiancee Jeanette Catherine Griesel in a cheerful and friendly informal civil ceremony in the garden of his family home, Schloss Donaueschingen.
More than two hundred invited guests attended the ceremony, which was performed by the mayor. The guests included the groom's parents, the Prince and Princess of Fürstenberg, and his younger brother, Prince Antonius.
The newlyweds took a carriage ride through the town, and were cheered by onlookers.
They will be married in a Roman Catholic service in Rome on September 25 in the presence of family and friends.

The photo is from the Südkurier, which owns the copyright.

Off to the airport

I don't be expect to writing many posts until after I return home on the 20th. I am going to London for 22 hours and then to Belgrade for an anniversary party! I don't own a laptop, so news and photos will not be uploaded until after I am back home!

Little Belgian prince now a count

September 14, 1930

Prince Baudouin, infant son of Crown Prince Leopold and Crown Princess Astrid of Belgium has received the title, Count of Hainault, by royal decree, reports the AP.

Royal Shopgirl weds royal clerk "with pomp"

September 14, 1928 

 The Chicago Daily Tribune reported today on the marriage between a prince and princess, who live and work in Chicago. It is a "real life romance, composed of the things of which movies are made," that culminated in a wedding at the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church. It was a marriage "that might have taken place in a palace of the old Russian czars." 

The priests "chanted the service in Russian, while a mixed choir, sheltered by a screen, responded." The bride and groom held "slim, ribboned candles" throughout the ceremony. At one point in the service, red velvet and gold coronets "were held over their heads successively by seven pairs of ushers." When of all this "royal pomp and circumstance was finished," the bride and groom left the church to be "greeted outside by a group of shopgirls from a loop department store who pelted them with rice." 

The bride is a shopgirl and her husband works as a clerk in a Chicago clothing store. But it was not the bride and groom's jobs that caught the attention of the press.

 The bride is Princess Alexandra Galitzine, and her husband is Prince Rostislav Alexandrovitch of Russia, a nephew of the late Nicholas II. Prince Rostislav is the son of Nicholas's sister, Grand Duchess Xenia, and her husband, Grand Duke Alexander. Alexandra, known as Aleka, and Prince Rostislav met in London "some years ago." 

Earlier this year, the princess came to live in Chicago with her mother. She started working in a local department store shortly after her arrival. Prince Rostislav arrived three months later, and soon became a salesman in a clothing store. The fourteen ushers included the bride's brother, Prince Nicholas Galitzine, Col. Michel Lasaref, Prince Michael Cantacuzene and Adlai Stevenson. After a weekend honeymoon, the bride and groom will return to to their respective jobs. They will reside with the princess' mother at her home, 38 East Walton Place in Chicago. 

The groom's parents were not present for the wedding.

Victoria's health much better

September 14, 1926

The health of Queen Victoria of Sweden "has now improved so much" that she will leave for her projected trip to Baden-Baden, Germany on September 15, reports the Associated Press.

An exclusive interview with Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine

Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine will be celebrating their 25th anniversary this coming weekend. I am looking forward to the celebrations, which will begin on Friday with a dinner at the palace. On Saturday, the celebrations will feature a luncheon cruise on the Danube and a gala dinner at the palace. Brunch at the palace on Sunday.
I cannot wait!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH
TRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER AND CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE FOR THE GLORIA MAGAZINE FOR
THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR MARRIAGE


All the secrets of our marriage

What do you consider the greatest value and accomplishment in your marriage?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: Mutual love and friendship. We enjoy being together and doing things together.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: The upbringing of our children and the return to my husband’s homeland, and that our love is as strong today as it was in the beginning.


You met in Washington in 1984. Did you ever think what your lives would be like if you have not met then?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: I was very happy to have met Katherine and it never crossed my mind what my life would be without her. It is amazing how our lives have changed. We certainly have had an extraordinary life together and we have done so much. We are quite a team.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: I cannot think of life without Alexander. Anyway I believe in destiny.

What are your goals in the next ten years?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: To be together and take care of each other. To see our children happy and work for the common good everyone.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: To see our children creating their own families and careers and to see them happy. To see my husband takes his rightful position as King of Serbia. His unselfish love and concern for the best interests of the people of Serbia is unique and admirable. He is the symbol of unity, stability and continuity, God’s gift to Serbia. To continue supporting the Serbian people through my Foundation.

What was the beginning of your life together like?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: Very nice we did so many wonderful things together and travelled a lot throughout the world. Our lives changed in 1989 as did so many other people’s lives. There was hope to return to the homeland, but we were very sad for what happened during those very tragic and difficult years. We brought up our children, we were always there for them and we enjoyed very precious times with them.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: A real blessing until the conflict started from that moment on our lives changed dramatically. We felt the pain that everyone was feeling our homeland and helped the people as much as possible, the results were amazing mainly because of the unity my husband and I have, respect and support we have for one another. We worked together as a team and our children helped us as well.

Your best man at the wedding was Greek King Constantine, and the man of honour was HRH Prince Tomislav, who else beside them attended your wedding ceremony.

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER AND CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: We were blessed with the presence our family and friends. It was a very happy and emotional wedding day.

You moved into the Royal Palace on July 17, 2001. Can you remember the emotions you felt at the time?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: Incredible emotions going into the home were my father and grandparents had lived. I will always remember the day. My grandfather built a magnificent and warm home that we as a family have come to love very much. We are so happy to share its beauty with the people. The Royal Compound with its two palaces, the Royal Palace and the White Palace, is unique in the world and is the Versailles of Serbia. I am sad that my father was unable to come back home.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: It is difficult to describe the great emotions that were felt that day in the Royal Palace and especially by my husband. You could tell in his tearful eyes that the dream finally came true. It was even harder to believe the next morning. When we woke up and tried to convince each other that we were finally at home.

While you were living abroad, did you ever think that moment would come?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: I always had hope that one day I would go go back to my roots. After decades the dream came true, but I am sad that it took so long and that so many people went through tough times.

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: We always lived with that dream and I think my husband and his father never left the homeland mentally, only physically. Of course we thought we would come back during better times. We never expected to see the country going through such a disaster and such destruction of peoples lives. It is a pity, because all the Serbian people wanted was a normal life and so did all the people of the former Yugoslavia. We are happy to be home now.

When was the first time that you realized that you will live in your ancestor country and in the Palaces they built?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: There was some hope and thought after 1989, but things went crazy what with the use of negative religion and negative nationalism – utter madness. We were all shocked, sad about the suffering the people went through and their pain. A horrific decade passed before we came home.

Once you gave a statement, in which you said that you described every room in the Palace and where it was. Whom did you learn such details from?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: My father told me a lot about the Royal Compound and I also had some documents that described it well. In addition I met people who knew about its history and construction. When I saw the Royal Compound for the fist time in December 2000 I was very impressed and recognized most locations thanks to what I had read and heard.

Can you remember the day, twenty-five years ago, when you proposed to Princess Katherine. What did you tell her then and how did she react to your words?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: I remember well when I asked Katherine to marry me and she became very emotional and very happy.

Who was the first person you told you were planning to get married?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: My mother, children and my uncles who were all very happy for us.

Where did you spend your honeymoon?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: We took the very nice Orient Express train to Venice and spent a few days in that lovely and historic city at the Cipriani Hotel, which was magnificent. It was romantic and a pleasure walking around Venice and St Marks square.

How did Princess Katherine attract you?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: Her warmth, caring and love to me was and is magical and is always wonderful. Her love for the children and her extraordinary care is truly magnificent for the children. We have all been spoilt so much by my sweet wife.

How did Crown Prince Alexander attract you?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: His honesty, his charm, his love for the children, his love for the country, his intelligence and knowledge of the world, his humour, his gentle character, his straight forwardness, his down to earth attitude and above all the way he looked in my eyes from the first day we met made me feel the luckiest women in the world. I knew then that he is someone very special and the person who I always believe in that he wears his crown in his heart.

Were you acquainted with the family history of your future husband?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: Since I also come from the Balkans as well I was very familiar with the history, but of course I never knew I was going to be so lucky to be part of it. I am proud of the accomplishments of his family and especially proud of Alexander’s accomplishments in helping the people.


How romantic was Crown Prince Alexander at the beginning of your marriage and has that changed now?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: His is charming and very romantic. That has changed now he is even more romantic than the beginning. He know the flowers I like, the wine I like, the music I like, the music I look, the clothes I like and he is a great gentleman. He never fails to surprise me. I thank God for this gift.


What have you given Princess Katherine for your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: A very special trip next year.
Your sons are currently being educated abroad, would you like their children to live in Serbia?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: My sons like Serbia very much and always come with many friends for their holidays. They also like coming every year for Exit and enjoy it very much. The Royal Palace is home for them. They enjoy tennis and swimming in the compound.

Which places do you like in Belgrade?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: We both like St Sava temple very much and every time we go there we are impressed. We also like Kalemegdan, it is very impressive and strategic. We miss the National Museum and the wonderful art. The National Theatre is charming. We enjoy going on a board on the Danube and Sava rivers.

Could you please describe one day at the Royal Palace?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: We wake up early and go for a walk followed by breakfast around 7:15 am. We meet with the staff to discuss maintenance, tours and visitors during the day. Many people come to visit us. We talk about charity and what can be done for the people. We are also invited to events and lovely places across Serbia. There are many visitors from the Diaspora who come to see us.

How much support do you give each other in the work you do?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: We work as as team and help each other with tasks and suggestions. We discuss the programme and planning.

Regarding the fact that you were well known for your humanitarian work before founding the HRH Crown Princess Foundation in Belgrade, how much does advice and support of your wife mean in this demanding work?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: First of all I am grateful to my husband for giving me the opportunity to get to know this wonderful country Serbia and its wonderful people. His dream has always been to help the people of Serbia so his advice and support for the foundation and its offices abroad (New York, Chicago, Toronto, London and Athens) and in Serbian has made him the backbone of the whole operation. Hid dedication to the foundation has inspire many people who support our work. Without him the enormous amount of work that has been down would have been almost impossible. He sees Serbia as part of Europe and his wish is to see the Serbian people to live with same standards as the rest of Europe. We work together for a better Serbia.

Do you know how much help did you gather and given to people that needed help?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: I really don’t know how much help we have gathered. All I know is that we have been working very hard for close to twenty years and have been helping everyone regardless of religion or ethnic origin. We never look back and we try to do our best every day that God has given us working hard to complete all the projects we have undertaken and we are eager to complete successfully. What I do know is that we have been to just about every hospital in our country with donations of ambulances, medical equipment, medical supplies, helping with the education of our doctors. Supporting various institutions such as children without parental care. Mental institutions, old people’s homes and many others. It is a privilege to help those in need. We love the Serbian people and we know how much they have appreciate our efforts and there is nothing would not do for them.

In the past weeks you have gone through a sad period caused by the loss of your mother, how did Crown Prince Alexander help you in overcoming these hard times in your life?

CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE: My husband has been the greatest support during these difficult times and he has helped me enormously during this very hard time. I cannot imagine how one can overcome the loss of a mother. My mother was a saint, the kindest woman ever, she was always so positive, such a great giver in life, such a great philanthropist, such caring person. She has left me with the biggest gift which is the joy of giving and she always told me that happiness is when you give of yourself. My mother prepared me for my role today. I love her very much and miss her. I will always be grateful to her for teaching me how to love and how to give. I am grateful to God for giving me such a great mother.

At your 60th birthday party, there were representatives from almost all European Dynasties. Will you have such a glamorous celebration for your 25th wedding anniversary?

CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER: We are expecting our family, members of royal families and friends from all over the world. We are looking forward to them joining us for this memorial day.

Queen Ena asks for privacy

September 13, 1936

By Radio from the SS Conte de Savoia at sea. The AP reports today that former Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, on board the S.S. Conte de Savoia, is en route to the United States to visit her eldest son, "who is critically ill in a New York hospital. She "begged today to be spared the fanfare usually given visiting royalty."
Her son-in-law, Prince Alessandro Torlonia, is accompanying her on this trip, and is acting as the queen's spokesman. His mother is American.
In a radio conversation, the prince, who is married to Infanta Beatriz, said: "such a hospitable country as the United States must sure understand her reasons for wanting to appear there incognita."
He added: "The Duchess of Toledo who is going to America on a short visit, solely to see her son, the Count of Covadonga, who is seriously ill in New York, desires that her visit should pass in the strictest incognita.
"This can be clearly understood owing to the fact of her great anxiety over the state of her son's health, added to by the sad events happening in Spain.
"She is fully convinced such as a hospital country as the United States will understand her reasons and respect her wishes, and for this she gives her most sincere thanks."

Alfonso, Count of Covadonga, "had the best day yesterday that he has had since he entered Presbyterian Medical Center three weeks ago." The count suffers from haemophilia. His doctor said there "had been no bleeding for forty-eight hours and that the Count was resting comfortably."

Regent of Brunswick dead of a stroke

September 12, 1906


The Regent of the duchy of Brunswick, Prince Albrecht of Prussia, died today following a stroke, reports the New York Times. Albrecht, the richest Prince in Germany, was the brother of the late Emperor Wilhelm I. He was born in 1837, and was appointed regent in 1885.
The heir to the Brunswick throne is the Duke of Cumberland, but "he is barred owing to his refusal to renounce his claim to the throne of Hanover." In the last few years, there have been reports of a reconciliation between the Duke and Wilhelm II, but the reports have proved "to be unfounded." It has been suggested that the Emperor "made advances toward an agreement, which the Duke repelled."
In 1902, Brunswick's government, sent to the Diet "a memorandum that the Duke of Cumberland was not the sovereign of the Duchy," and no one could be the Sovereign "unless he was a Federal prince.
It is expected that Kaiser Wilhelm II's second son, Prince Eitel Friedrich, will be named as the new Regent. The appointment is in "the gift of the Emperor."