Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia
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Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia, also known as Alexandar Karađorđević (Cyrillic: Александар Карађорђевић; born 17 July 1945), is the last crown prince of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia and current head of the House of Karađorđević. Alexander is the only child of former King Peter II of Yugoslavia and Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark. He prefers to be known as "Crown Prince Alexander", the title he was born with when his father was still King.[1]
With the formation of a communist republic and the subsequent disintegration of the state of Yugoslavia, Alexander is now a proponent of re-creating a constitutional monarchy in Serbia.[2]
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Status at birth
As with many other European monarchs during World War II King Peter II left his country to establish a government-in-exile.[3] He left Yugoslavia in April 1941 and arrived in London in June 1941. The Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces capitulated.
After the Tehran Conference, the Allies shifted support from royalist Chetniks to communist Partisans.[4] Commenting on the event and what happened to his father, Crown Prince Alexander II said, " He [Peter II] was too straight. He could not believe that his allies - the mighty American democracy and his relatives and friends in London - could do him in. But that's precisely what happened." [5] In June 1944 Ivan Šubašić, a royal envoy, and Josip Broz (Tito), a partisan leader, signed an agreement which was an attempt to merge the royal and communist governments.
On 29 November 1943, AVNOJ (formed by the Communist Partisans) declared themselves the sovereign government of Yugoslavia and proclaimed taking away all legal rights from the Royal government. On 10 August 1945, less than a month after Karađorđević's birth, AVNOJ named the country Democratic Republic of Yugoslavia. On 29 November 1945, the country was declared a communist republic and changed its name in 1946 to People's Republic of Yugoslavia.[6]
In 1947, his family [1] was illegally, a clear human rights violation, deprived of Yugoslavian citizenship and all family property was confiscated [2].
![[1]](http://www.royalfamily.org/exhibits/hist-doc/resenje-o-oduzimanju.jpg){kind=link}
“Based upon the Decree of the Presidency of the Presidium of the National Assembly of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nr. 392 from 8 March 1947, with which the Government of PFRY was entrusted the fulfillment of the decision about the removal of the citizenship of the PFRY and confiscation of the property of the members of the Karadjordjevic family, the Government of PFRY brings the following ORDER:
By the Decree of the Presidency of the Presidium of the National Assembly of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia nr. 392 from 8 March 1947 (Official Gazette nr. 64 from 1 August 1947), the citizenship of PFRY is being taken away from the members of the Karadjordjevic family and their entire property is being confiscated”.[7]
Birth and childhood
Alexander was born in Suite 212 of Claridge's Hotel in Brook Street, London. The British Government temporarily ceded sovereignty over the suite in which the birth occurred to Yugoslavia so that the prince would be born in Yugoslav territory.[8]
His godparents were King George VI and Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II.[9] He was the only child of King Peter II and Queen Alexandra and the only grandchild of Princess Aspasia of Greece. Through his maternal grandmother, Alexander is also a relative of Ileana, the current Duchess of Chartres.
His parents were relatively unable to take care of him, due to their various health and financial problems, so Alexander was raised by his maternal grandmother. He was educated at Institut Le Rosey, Culver Military Academy, Gordonstoun, Millfield and Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot.
Marriages
On 1 July 1972 at Villamanrique de la Condesa, near Seville, Spain, he married Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans Bragança. They had three sons, Hereditary Prince Peter and fraternal twins Princes Philip and Alexander. By marrying a Roman Catholic, Alexander lost his place in line of succession to the British Throne, which he had held as a descendant of Queen Victoria through her second son Alfred. This did not matter, though, as his position was so remote that there was no chance of him ever becoming King in the United Kingdom. Alexander is also descended from Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Victoria.[10] His sons are in the line of British succession, in 94th, 95th and 96th place (as of 8 January 2009).
Alexander and Maria da Gloria divorced in 1985. Crown Prince Alexander married for the second time, Katherine Clairy Batis, the daughter of Robert Batis and his wife, Anna Dosti, civilly on 20 September 1985, and religiously the following day, at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Notting Hill, London. Since their marriage, she is known as Katherine, Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, as per the royal family's website.
Return to Yugoslavia
Alexander first came to Yugoslavia in 1991. He actively worked with the democratic opposition against the regime of Slobodan Milošević and moved to Yugoslavia after Slobodan Milošević was deposed in 2000. In March 2001 Yugoslavian citizenship was finally restored to him by the government and the property seized from his family, including royal palaces, was returned.
He currently lives in Краљевски Двор (Kraljevski Dvor, or Royal Palace) in Dedinje, an exclusive area of Belgrade. Kraljevski Dvor, which was completed in 1929, is one of two royal residences on the property; the other is the White Palace (Бели Двор) which was completed in 1936.
Belief in constitutional monarchy
Alexander is a proponent of re-creating a constitutional monarchy in Serbia and sees himself as a rightful king. He believes that monarchy could give Serbia "stability, continuity and unity".[11]
Many members of political parties and organizations support a constitutional parliamentary monarchy in Serbia. The Serbian Orthodox Church has openly supported the restoration of the monarchy.[12][13]. The assassinated former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić could often be seen in the company of the prince and his family, supporting their campaigns and projects, although his Democratic Party never publicly embraced monarchy. It seems no party is ready to energetically push the issue of monarchy either because the country has more pressing problems, or because they don't want to drive another wedge into the already fragmented electorate.
Crown Prince Alexander II has vowed to stay out of politics and has so far fulfilled this promise. He and Crown Princess Katherine spend considerable time associated with humanitarian work.
The Crown Prince however has increasingly participated in public functions alongside the leaders of Serbia, the former Yugoslav republics and members of the diplomatic corps. On 11 May 2006 he hosted a reception at the Royal Palace for delegates attending a summit on Serbia and Montenegro. The reception was attended by the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, as well as ambassadors and diplomats from Slovenia, Poland, Brazil, Japan, United States and Austria. He later delivered a key-note speech in front of prime ministers Vojislav Koštunica and Milo Đukanović. In the speech he spoke of prospective Serbian membership of the European Union. He told delegates[14]:
| “ | In addition, we in Serbia and Montenegro must take into account that whatever form we take within the European Union, we have only but one choice and that is to work for the common good of all member nations. It is also central to take into account that stability in our region will be enhanced when Serbia is fully at peace with itself. | ” |
Following Montenegro's successful independence referendum on 21 May 2006, the re-creation of the Serbian monarchy did find its way into daily political debate. A monarchist proposal for the new Serbian constitution has been published alongside other proposals. The document approved in October 2006 is a republican one. The Serbian people have not had a chance to vote on the system of government.
The Crown Prince raised the issue of a royal restoration in the immediate aftermath of the vote. In a press release issued on the 24 May 2006 he stated[15]:
| “ | It has been officially confirmed that the people of Montenegro voted for independence. I am sad, but I wish our Montenegrin brothers peace, democracy and happiness. The people of Montenegro are our brothers and sisters no matter what if we live in one or in two countries, that is how it was and that is how it will be forever.
I strongly believe in a Constitutional Parliamentary Kingdom of Serbia. Again, we need to be proud, a strong Serbia that is at peace with itself and with its neighbors. We were a proud, respected and happy country in the days of my great grandfather King Peter I. So, we can do it! Only if we have a form of governance close to the Serbian soul: the Kingdom of Serbia. Simply, the King is above daily politics, he is the guardian of national unity, political stability and continuity of the state. In Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies the King is the protector of public interest: there is no personal or party interest. What is most important is the interest of Serbia. I am ready to meet all our politicians; we have to work together for the common good of Serbia, and to be friends in the name of the future of our country. I appeal for the end of the continuous political wrangling, division and arguments. I appeal for mature democratic debate in the interest of Serbia. Serbia must have clear and realistic objectives. |
” |
Returning the remains of King Peter II to Serbia
On 4 March 2007 Crown Prince Alexander announced the plans to return the remains of his late father King Peter II back to his homeland in the now Serbia, and to be buried in the crypt of the Royal Family mausoleum Oplenac, where Karađorđe Petrović (the dynasty’s progenitor), King Peter I, King Alexander I, and all other members of the Royal Family have been buried.
He has not yet set a date for returning his father, but may do so for spring 2010 or 2011. The plan has caused controversy among a minority of Serbian-Americans since Peter II according to them personally chose St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery as his final resting place.[16] Most of King Peter II's ancestors are buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Oplenac.[17] King Peter II's mother, Queen Marie of Yugoslavia is buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore near Windsor Castle, Windsor, United Kingdom. Crown Prince Alexander would like to see his paternal grandmother buried next to King Alexander I.
Ancestors
| Ancestors of Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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See also
- Monarchs of Yugoslavia
- Monarchs of Serbia
- Monarchy
- Karađorđe Petrović
- History of the Balkans
- History of Europe
- Wars of Yugoslav succession
References
- ↑ Alexander's website.
- ↑ http://www.royalfamily.org/welcome/index.htm
- ↑ Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda, p.296
- ↑ Royalty in Exile by Charles Fenyvesi, p. 211
- ↑ ibid, p.212
- ↑ ibid, p.215
- ↑ Vlada Federativne Narodne Republike Jugoslavije, Pov. Br. 1433, 2. avgusta 1947. godine, Beograd. - Translation of the official document of the Government of the People's Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; the original is kept at the Archives of Yugoslavia in Belgrade.
- ↑ Royalty in Exile by Charles Fenyvesi, p.211
- ↑ ibid
- ↑ Lines of Succession by Jiri Louda, p.286 Table 144
- ↑ Kings Try for Comeback
- ↑ Letter from Patriarch Pavle to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, 29 November 2003
- ↑ Serbian Orthodox Leader Calls For Monarchy To Be Reintroduced by Jonathon Luxmoore
- ↑ Press release by Alexander's chancellery.
- ↑ Press release. 24 May 2006.
- ↑ Royalty in Exile by Charles Fenyvesi, p.217
- ↑ King's body in U.S. may head to homeland
Books, letters and articles
- Fenyvesi, Charles (1981). Royalty In Exile. London: Robson Books Ltd. ISBN 0-86051-131-6.
- Louda, Jiri; Maclagan, Michael (1981). Lines of Succession. London: Orbis Publishing. ISBN 0-85613-276-4.
- Pavle, Patriarch (29 November 1981). Letter to HRH Crown Prince Alexander II. Belgrade.
- Luxmoore, Jonathon (8 December 1981). Serbian Orthodox Leader Calls For Monarchy To Be Reintroduced. Belgrade: Ecumenical News Daily Service.
External links
- Official Royal Family website
- royal.rs - Alexander, Crown Prince
- The Mausoleum of the Serbian Royal Family
- Crown Prince Alexander II Foundation for Education
- Crown Princess Katherine Foundation
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Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia
House of Karageorgevitch
Born: 17 July 1945 |
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| Preceded by King Peter II |
— TITULAR — King of Yugoslavia 3 November 1970 – present Reason for succession failure: Kingdom abolished in 1945 |
Incumbent Heir: Hereditary Prince Peter |
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