PRINCESS KATHERINE INTERVIEW WITH “BORBA”

I always manage to have time to do good work

My friends understand my often calls for help, since we have the highest frequency of breast cancer in Europe. The key thing for collecting of money is confidence. My husband and I enjoy the confidence of the international community and we got it for Serbia.

Prince Alexander and you were recently invited to dinner by Vice President Joseph Biden, what kind of messages from Washington are you bringing us?

Vice President Biden supports us, and in his opinion, the citizens of Serbia deserve a better future. In my opinion he really thinks so. When receiving my husband, Biden said that he really appreciates him, and recognized him for his contribution in establishing democracy in Serbia. I spoke with the wife of Vice President of United States. She is very much engaged in the fight against breast cancer, and I have similar ambitions, to save the women of Serbia. I think that if curing starts at the very beginning, death can be avoided.

Together with Mr. Biden, his wife Jill and Ambassador Nancy Brinker you participated in the race for healing breast cancer organized by the Suzanne G. Komen Foundation. You made a speech in the front of 50.000 people. Are there some indications for the organization of that event in Belgrade?

Ambassador Nancy Brinker, whose sister died from breast cancer, managed to collect one billion three hundred million dollars over 30 years, for research and the fight against this disease. That is proof how a woman can make fin the memory on her sister and promise that mankind will win breast cancer. I was honoured and privileged to represent my country in front of 50.000 people, together with my husband, Vice President Biden, his wife and Ambassador Nancy Brinker. The race was from the White house to Capitol Hill. People who won cancer had pink T-shirts. Those whose cousins or friends died, had white t-shirts with a picture of departed. The message of the race was that people need to take care of their health. Money was collected for the fight against breast cancer. I hope that we will have it in Belgrade. Ambassador Brinker offered support for that.

Your foundation recently donated one mobile digital mammography to Ministry of Health, for health controlee of women of South Serbia. By that you joined state action for fight against breast cancer. How much women in Serbia take care after their health?

Serbia is very happy to have such a good Minister of Health. Breast cancer is very much present in Serbia, but the Ministry has a good strategy to fight it. We have to take care of the health of Serbian women, and to present them the importance of prevention. We cannot scare them. That is why we had to acquire a digital mammography and organize conferences and seminaries for doctors. You can’t have apparatus without knowledge, but knowledge without an apparatus is useless.

Women have to be aware that 5 minutes of examination can save their lives. We organized a conference concerning breast cancer for 200 doctors. We are preparing another one for September in Belgrade. I am very proud about my friends from New York. They are of Greek origin, and they have foundations in Greece and New York. They understand my often calls for help, since we have the highest frequency of breast cancer disease in Europe. That is how we acquired the digital mammography. It is expensive, but my friends told me that was nothing compared to saving lives. In the end, all of us together helped. General Electric, the manufacture of the mammography, Bence Company from the United Kingdom, produced the vehicle… The key thing for collecting money is confidence. My husband and I enjoy the confidence of the international community and have we got it for Serbia. Beside, I am very proud that my foundation, with help of my friends Katherine Sophianou and Grace Nelson, acquired for Serbia two mammography machines.

You help to old and young people, to refuges talented ones… and for that you received much recognition, which one is the dearest to you.

Above all, I am privileged to live in Serbia, to help its citizens. I am a little bit shy because of these awards, care for the Serbian people is actually the reason why I help, not the awards. But, rejecting the award would hurt people who want to show me how they appreciate my work. I always managed to do good work, I was raised in that way. Last year, my father received recognition as one of the biggest philanthropists that Greece ever had. My mother is also a philanthropist and she always told us that we have to take care of others. I received many awards but the most important one is that I live in Serbia, helping people and I have a chance to work. My husband made it possible, and I am very thankful to him.

What are the plans of foundation of your husband?

The Foundation of my husband is very important, since he believes in the education of young people that is the key for a better future and for real leaders. The foundation provides scholarships for studies abroad. He believes in youth and he regrets that he didn’t spend his youth in Serbia. He sent 40 students from Serbia for studies in Great Britain, California, Indiana, and Chicago.

What are the plans of young princes Peter, Philip and Alexander?

The Princes grew up with us. Since they were 18 months old, the twins Philip and Alexander were with me. They were raised to love Serbia. Even before we came to Serbia for the first time, they knew their origin. I remember the interview with boys, with each of them in separate rooms. When they were asked about my job, all of them replied that I was spending my time on phone, asking for help for Serbia- that was a strong impression for them. I know that they will come back to Serbia to continue our work. Today, they acquire their knowledge, experience and education. They have to work on that to be able to help. Next year, Prince Alexander and will mark 25 anniversary of our wedding.

How does a regular day at the Palace look like?

June was very interesting, we had many events. My husband and I have acquaintances all over the world. We work every day to nurture and develop our contacts, and that requires a whole day engagement. We do all that in order to find opportunities for investment and assistance for the people of Serbia. At night when my husband goes to sleep and sees that I am still on the phone, he gets upset and tells me that everyone is asleep in Serbia and that I cannot help anyone now, But I reply "They are sleeping in Serbia, but they are awake in America, I can call somebody, there is always someone who needs help."

Since 17 July 2001, you are living at the Royal Palace. The doors of the White Palace are open for visitors for six years. What are the impressions of the visitors, what are they asking you the most?

Whenever we are here, we are meeting and talking with the tourists. Everyone wants to have a photo with us. They are bringing letters, photos, press clippings and showing us "This is your father, your grandfather with my grandfather". We are trying to respect tradition. I especially like it when people bring babies to the Palace and want me to have a photo with them. I always want to know where they are from, if they are young what school they attend, and I ask them why they choose to visit the Palace.

Children and grandchildren

"We have five children, and five grandchildren. My granddaughter Amanda graduated from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, and now she works in Chicago and she is very successful in her work, and she is only 23 years old. Stefanie is 22 years old, and recently she graduated from Indianapolis University in Indiana, and she works in New York. Nicholas is a scholar and is starting his third year of studies. Michael is 17 years old and he is finishing high school next year" says Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic.

Blue blood and business

"I am very proud of Princes Peter, Philip and Alexander. They finished their education and currently they are gaining knowledge and experience in the field of their work. Prince Peter finished studies of art and works in the field of graphic design and computer technologies. Prince Philip graduated from a college in Great Britain and afterwards he graduated in Hotel management and administration in Switzerland and he started to work in Great Britain, while Prince Alexander, after postgraduate studies of advertising, got a job as International coordinator for correspondence in one prestigious magazine in USA" says Princess Katarina Karadjordjevic.

After graduation, David started to work in the field of finances. He is married to a Greek woman Angie, with whom he has a son Alexander who is one and a half years old. Alison is a businesswoman and has four children.