Saopštenje

“Nedeljni telegraf”, 11 June 2003

Interview: Crown Prince Alexander talks about his visit to Queen Elizabeth and his conversation with the Prince of Wales

PRINCE CHARLES COMES TO SERBIA SOON

His Royal Highness Prince Alexander Karadjordjevic has received us at The Royal Palace in Dedinje. The roads at the Royal Compound were being asphalted last weekend, thanks to the donors. Since the Crown Prince has just returned from the official visit to Great Britain and the British Crown, we asked him about his impressions.

It was a great pleasure for my wife and myself to be at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. The ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey, where The Queen was coronated fifty years ago, and where I was baptized. Her father, George VI, was also my godfather.

The Prince of Wales hosted a private dinner for about 40 members of the British Royal Family, and my wife and I attended it, together with The Queen’s relatives from Greece, Germany and France. That evening was inspired with musicals and humor from 1953. It was wonderful to see Her Majesty laughing. The Queen was very happy, and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, too.

- May we know what did you talk about with Queen Elizabeth? Did you talk about the possibility for the members of the British Crown to visit The Royal Palace, Belgrade and Serbia?

Yes. The talks on that subject are still in progress. The Prince of Wales has expressed his wish to visit Belgrade and I am sure that Prince Charles would be warmly welcomed in Serbia. The two of us have known each other for quite some time, because we went to the same school in Scotland. Prince Charles wishes to visit Serbia not only to find about our humanitarian situation, but also to learn about our history and culture, and perhaps to take part in a sport event.

- Can you tell us when will Prince Charles visit Belgrade?

I think we shall not wait for long for the visit of The Prince of Wales, although the decision is on the Governments of Great Britain and Serbia. I hope I shall be a good host!

- Before you went to London, Your Highness, you received a personal donation from Prince Charles. Tell us how that happened.

In a conversation with Prince Charles I explained the dramatic situation in our hospitals and the need to modernize the equipment in them. He asked for a list of equipment necessary in our hospitals, and personally selected this sterilizing machine that he donated. And he promised to continue helping us.

- What are the relationships of the Serbian Crown with European dynasties?

We have excellent relationships with the members of the Royal Families in Sweden, Norway, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg. We have recently received an invitation to visit the Swedish King. And there are plans for another Royal visit in August.

- As the Head of the Royal House of Karadjordjevic you have recently paid respect to the late King Alexander Obrenovic. Why did you do that?

I thought the moment has come to put behind all of our misunderstandings and differences. I respect all personages and authorities in our country, even the ones from our recent past. King Alexander was a great ruler. I was surprised when I saw how modest his tomb was. We must never again solve our problems in a dramatic way, for there is another, democratic way.

Transfer of King Petar II’s and Queen Maria’s remains into Serbia next year

- Does your family consider to bring the remains of the late King Petar II and Queen Maria who were buried in America and England, back to the Royal tomb in Oplenac?

I have suggested to the Government to make the gesture of transferring King Petar II’s and Queen Maria’s remains from Libertyville and Windsor into the Royal mausoleum in Oplenac. Next year, 2004, is very important for Serbian people. It is the bicentennial of the First Serbian Uprising in which the modern Serbian state was established, and the centennial of King Petar’s coronation, about which a fascinating film was made then. In my conversations with the late Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, and in the current talks with the Government of Serbia, we came to an agreement to organize a central celebration of these jubilees. Also how to organize the transfer of King Petar II’s and Queen Maria’s remains to Serbia, which they were always very nostalgic about, so that they rest in peace in their own country. Of course, we think about “bringing back home” the other members of our family, to their tombs in Oplenac.

- The media have reported about some problems with the transfer of your mother, for allegedly, she was a British citizen, and they are not allowed to be buried outside Britain?

That information is completely incorrect, my mother was never a British citizen. There are no problems regarding the transfer on that side. We do have problems here with the organization of the whole project, which should be to the benefit of the whole country. We should respect first, and then create our own history.

Young Princes in Belgrade soon

- When will the Palaces be open for the public?

I am not sure of that, for we have problems with reparation of The White Palace’s roof. We had three estimates of the costs and it turned out it would be a very expensive job.

- When will your sons come, and when will you go on vacation?

Petar, Philip and Alexander will soon come on holiday to Belgrade. My wife and I might take a short vacation in July. It is very hot then and I like to have rest here in Dedinje. We are going to Greece, because I like Greek sea and Greek people.

Marko Lopusina