Prince Philip

I’m not ready for wedding bells

By Marija Mijatovic

Prince Philip Karadjordjevic visited Belgrade recently, because of the Belgrade Marathon, which he took part in, with the aim to raise funds for children with disability. For the first time he brought his girlfriend Lucy Attwood to Serbia, during the interview with the "Blic“ he said that he still doesn’t plan to get married and he also explains why the media are so preoccupied with the Royal Wedding.

Have you participated in any other marathon?

This time I’m only taking part in the Belgrade half marathon. However, last October I took part in the Athens marathon. There are a few reasons why I decided to run a marathon or even a half one. Firstly, it is a fantastic way to stay in shape and running gives me a good sense of wellbeing. Running marathons are also a wonderful way for raising funds. Not only am I running for myself, but I’m also running for a cause. This time I am helping children with disabilities. I am running the Belgrade Half Marathon for the Princess Katherine Foundation.

Was it easier to face up to the challenge knowing that your girlfriend will be by your side?

Of course, it’s always easier running with someone close to you. Lucy is a great runner; she has completed many marathons and therefore has great experience. We give each other great support, but I need the support more.

Can you tell us something about her, and is her visit to Serbia a subtle hint that our country might host a royal wedding just like the United Kingdom any time soon?

Lucy is beautiful, fun, caring and clever, and I am very happy with her. However I can safely say that you will not hear any wedding bells in the near future.

How often do you visit Serbia, and how important is it for you that other people that you care about get to know our country more, or even get to like it?

I come to Serbia more and more often, maybe once every month or two. I have a home here and every time I come I really do feel at home. Most of my close friends are not Serbian, naturally as I was brought up in the United Kingdom. I invite many of them to visit Serbia as much as possible. I want for them to see this beautiful country and to spread the word when they get back home. They always have an amazing time here and they always want to come back.

You graduated in arts, but you work for a financial institution, was it a practical decision or something else?

I love the arts and culture, but why then got into finance after studying it? I believe that appreciating culture and arts is fundamental in understanding how people work, and ultimately, but not directly, how business works. I also love macroeconomics, I love following the markets.

On what occasions do you actually feel like a prince? And what does it mean to you, namely, what do you feel to be your responsibilities?

I only ever feel like a prince when other people make me feel like one. I am very proud of my heritage, however as you know the responsibilities a prince, a monarch, are not what they use to be.

These days monarchs have a small, yet important responsibility to help promote their nations and people. Of course this responsibility would be greater if monarchy were reinstated, namely constitutional monarchy. Constitutional monarchy undoubtedly massively helps to maintain stability and to create positive attention. There is no arguing about this. Simply look at the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway and Japan, and what do they all have in common? They are all constitutional monarchies and are all very stable and prosperous.

The main responsibilities and tasks of the mentioned countries are rightfully left to their governments. And more often than not these governments get the job done well. Serbia has so much to learn from this.

What do you usually do when you come to Belgrade? Do you maybe go out, since everybody's full of praise for Belgrade's nightlife?

I mainly come back to Belgrade to be with my family. Nonetheless I also come for formal and casual occasions, I meet many people here. I go out when I can, and yes Belgrade does live up to its reputation of having a great nightlife.

Have you perhaps had the opportunity to meet Kate Middleton, Prince William's fiancée?

I haven’t had the chance to meet Kate. I do have friends who know her and they say she is a lovely girl. I believe they have both made the right choice and I wish them all the best. The wedding is important for the country, just as the whole royal family is. The British Royal Family is like a great investment. The British taxpayers pay approximately £36m (€41m) a year, or 50p (57cents) a day. Now in return the Royal Family generates roughly £1bn to 2bn directly and indirectly every year, mainly through tourism. Now you don’t have to be a businessman to see how amazing the return on investment is there. People don’t come to the United Kingdom just for the weather!