HRH
Crown Prince Aleksandar II Karadjordjevic
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"The only way forward is through democratic reform and human rights for one and all" |
Royal House of Yugoslavia and Serbia
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In April 1941, after the Nazis attacked and occupied Yugoslavia, the country's young King, Petar II , left in the wake of the Germany forces for Athens with the Yugoslav government. He and his countrymen were determined not to accept surrender, in the best tradition of the founder of the Dynasty, Karadjordje ("Black George") Petrovic, who led a heroic uprising of the Serbs against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. From Athens, King Peter and his government went to Palestine and Egypt. Finally, King Petar II established the government in exile in the United Kingdom.
In 1944, in London, King Petar II married Princess Aleksandra of Greece, the daughter of HM King Alexander of the Hellenes. On 17 July, 1945, while living in Claridges Hotel, Queen Aleksandra gave birth to a son - HRH the Crown Prince Aleksandar II of Yugoslavia.
As the heir to the throne had to be born on Yugoslav soil, the British Government declared a suite of the hotel Yugoslav territory. His Holiness Patriarch Gavrilo of Serbia baptized the newborn Crown Prince in Westminster Abbey. His godparents were King George VI and the then Princess Elizabeth, now HM The Queen Elizabeth II.
After the war King Petar II was illegally prevented from returning to his country by the communist regime which seized power in Belgrade. He and Queen Aleksandra lived in many lands in exile (USA, France, Italy and England). Crown Prince Aleksandar II was educated at Le Rosey (Switzerland), Culver Military Academy (Indiana), Gordonstoun (Scotland) and Millfield (England). He subsequently went to the British Royal Military Academy. In 1966 he was commissioned in the British Army, serving in the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers, and rising to the rank of Captain. His tours of duty included the Middle East, Italy and West Germany. Since leaving the army, Crown Prince Aleksander II - who is fluent in six languages - has pursued a career in business.
After a long illness, King Petar II died in 1970 in the United States. Although the Crown Prince decided not to take the title of King - which would have had little meaning in exile - he never renounced his title, or the dynastic right to the throne.
Since 1991 Crown Prince Aleksandar II has repeatedly visited Serbia, where he has been enthusiastically greeted by the people who see the Karadjordjevic Dynasty as the embodiment of all that is best for the future. The Crown Prince is very ardent defender of democracy and human rights. Having decided to take an active role in helping his people shake off the legacy of the half-century of communist dictatorship and the current regime. The Crown Prince has travelled extensively, met with numerous world leaders, politicians and given many interviews to the print and electronic media. In 1972 he married HIRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans and Braganca, of the Imperial House of Brazil, in Villamanrique de la Condesa, Spain. They had three children. The eldest son, Prince Petar, was born in 1980 in Chicago, Illinois; and the twin sons, Prince Filip and Prince Aleksandar, were born in 1982 in Fairfax, Virginia. The marriage ended in 1983. In 1985, The Crown Prince married in London Katherine Batis from Athens, Greece. HM King Constantine of the Hellenes was the best man. The family live in London where the young princes attend school and college. Crown Prince Aleksandar II enjoys skiing, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving and under-water photography. He was British Army Ski Champion in 1972. His other interests include music, theatre, information technology, and current affairs. |
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