HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II – SERBIA WILL BE A KINGDOM

I like kebabs, sarma, Red star and Partizan. My favourite sport is skiing and greatest adventure is diving with the penguins on Galapagos

The Crown Prince believes in Serbia as a Constitutional Parliamentary Monarch, member of the European Union, and wishes all citizens’ good health and life in peace

-When will Serbia become kingdom?

At the moment when it is realized that we are responsible to our people, their future and interests, and not to political party boards and ambitious leaders. In addition it is also only fair for our people to be aware that the most successful countries in Europe are constitutional Monarchies like Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Norway, The Netherlands etc. No to forget Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.

-The concept of monarchy is definitely popular in Serbia, but not dominant. What do you think is the reason for this?

For half a century in this country you could only hear untruths about monarchy as a system. That included schools, media, books and scientific fora. I deem that the fact that monarchy has kept its popularity in spite of this aggressive propaganda is fantastic.

-Enemies of the monarchy always use your bad knowledge of Serbian as an argument against this idea. It seems that lately your Serbian has improved. What do you find the most difficult to learn (cases, pronunciation, could you tell us an anecdote regarding language)?

I am very grateful to all those who care about my Serbian! If that is their biggest complaint, I think that we can live with it! The whole your life you have been learning Serbian, among Serbs, in your country and among your people. When I was less than two, I had that right taken away. Of course, every language can and should be learnt, especially the mother tongue. On the other hand, I am sure that no one has had any harm due to the quality of my Serbian!

-At the service to Prince Paul, all descendants of Vožd Karadjordje who are not on good terms with each other were in one place. Did you make peace?

Of course we met at the service to the late Prince. I liked him and appreciated him very much. I don’t know why you think that we are all enemies and that we have to make peace in order to get together.

-Opponents of the monarchy also emphasize the big expenses of the Dvor, and ask “Why would the people pay for them?”

Conservation and maintenance of The Royal Complex were on the State budget during Tito and Milosevic, I can’t see why that would be different now, when the host of the House is living there and taking care about the condition The Complex. On the other hand, Monarchy is a much cheaper form of State establishment because we are not spending large amounts of money on Presidential elections every four years, with the commitment to ensure lifetime living space and security to all former Presidents. But implementation of the Crown and Presidential Cabinet are equivalent.

-If you had to vote, for which party (or political option) from Serbian political scene would you never vote?

Constitutional Monarchy should abide by the principle of neutrality and not take sides or meddle in politics. Members of royal families are not members of any political party this is the principal in all Constitutional Monarchies. The government rules and monarch reigns thus defending the democratic process and the Monarch is the symbol of unity, continuity and stability.

-You were a Champion of British army in skiing, are you fond of this sport today and what places (where) do you prefer?

Skiing is my favourite sport. I learnt to ski in Italy and I have always enjoyed it. I was also lucky to have gone to school in Switzerland. We are very lucky to have Kopaonik in Serbia where we go every year as family. The family loves Kopaonik and looks forward to returning every year. I ski and the boys snowboard and my wife enjoys walking in Kopaonik and watching us. The air in Kopaonik is wonderful and everyone is so good and friendly to us.

-How deep were you under the water and where? Where did You make the best underwater photos and what is on it?

Unfortunately I do not have much time to do this interesting and exiting sport anymore. I have always enjoyed the Red Sea. We are often guests of the Jordanian Royal Family in Aqaba and water sports are wonderful there. The boys learnt to scuba dive there and enjoy water skiing. I recommend not going too deep so we tend to limit our depth to a maximum 20 - 30 metres but rarely go to that depth. In the tropics there is a lot of life to observe at lower depths. The most interesting place I scuba dived was in the Galapagos Islands where the marine life was extraordinary and photography was great and even diving with penguins was amazing.

-Where and with whom will You celebrate New Year 2007?

Since Katarina originates from Greece we are lucky to have two Christmas’s and two New Year’s. Greece is on the new calendar, but we have our Serbian Christmas at the dvor with the boys followed by a nice winter sports Kopaonik and followed by Serbian New Year back at the dvor. The boys bring friends for holidays and they love Serbia.

-Red Star or Partizan?

I like both teams and always enjoy going to football games and so do the boys even my wife enjoys it too. Yes we are neutral on this one.

-When and for what reason did you cry last time?

I am an emotional person this is my Slavic blood. I get emotional seeing and feeling people suffer.

-What is that your wife usually criticizes?

I am lucky to have a wonderful wife who is so caring for me and the boys. We are a great team and I she helps me a lot. We help each other out every day.

-Do you have any experience in the kitchen (cooking)?

I find cooking once in a while relaxing and it gets ones mind of things.

-What is Your favourite domestic food?

I have a weakness for cevapcici and I like good sarma.