Interview with Prince Philip Karadjordjevic

Among three sons of Crown Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic, the blond Prince is visiting Serbia most often. His time divided among Switzerland, England and America, where he was educated, and Spain where his mother, brother, and two half-sisters are living, he finds time to talk to our magazine.

S. Jokanovic

Two years ago he told us that he couldn’t find himself in the world of banking, so he turned to hotel business. Before that, we spoke about him growing up, his relationships with his brothers, his parents, cousins, and before that …Do you remember your first visit to Serbia? What particular memory you have from that visit?

- My first visit to Serbia was in 1991, which was also my family’s first time back in some 50 years. It was a trip that I will never forget. I remember when we landed at Belgrade airport and the many people that came to greet us was extremely warming. I remember when my father kneeled down to kiss Serbian soil (well to be more accurate it was actually Yugoslav soil at the time) that was very special. I also remember how brave and courageous my older brother Peter was at the time when he delivered a speech in front of hundreds of thousands of people, he was only 11 years old.

Since then Philip is visiting Serbia with his family several times a year.

- I very much look forward to being with my father, we have such a great time together. And what really makes me happy is how much he cares for his family and his country. He invests so much of his time in trying to see that the country he loves and cares for so much flourishes and prospers. His devotion towards Serbia is extremely warming. I am very proud of my stepmother who is very active with her humanitarian work for Serbia, she is very caring for all the people both young and old, and has helped every hospital in the country.

Twenty seven years old Prince understands that he was not coming to Serbia only to meet his father, but also to “represent it”.

- I have spent a lot of the times travelling around and visiting many other parts of Serbia. I made many friends, but there are not too many friends, ever. I’m looking forward to make new ones.

He has graduated from several schools, and now he seems to have concrete plans for the future.

HRH Prince Philip with the Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic

Roughly one year ago I completed my studies in a hotel and business school in Switzerland, it was my second degree. Since completing my studies I had been working in a famous 5 star hotel in London, until very recently. I have now decided to go back to finance, back to ‘the city’, London business district. My reason for this change in careers was simply because the finance world will give me better career progression and comfort later in life then what the hospitality world could offer. The last two years studying and working in the hospitality world has given me experience that can never be taken away, and it has also made me realize what I want to do in life.

After that experience, he might say what was the best hotel he ever stayed in and what was the worst and why.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was the Oberoi in Udaipur, India. My family and I were guests there for a fabulous wedding of one our good Indian friends. The worst hotel? I don’t think I can pick a worst hotel. The reason for that is if have ever had a bad experience, in a hotel in this case, I would’ve made the most of the situation and laughed at it, therefore turning into a fun experience. Even though I mentioned earlier about my career change, it hasn’t stopped me from dreaming about owning my own hotel one day. It would be a boutique style hotel, either in countryside or the city, or both! It would be designed uniquely to the area.