IN THE HEART OF THE BRITISH CAPITAL, IN THE CLARIDGES HOTEL, THERE ARE 100 SQUARE METERS OF OUR LAND

SERBIA, IN LONDON

In this most exclusive hotel, there are Serbian employees. Suite 212 has been proclaimed Serbian territory in July 1945, so that our Prince Alexander could be born in “his country”. Many people don’t know that, in the heart of London, between the Bond and Oxford Streets, there exists a territory of Serbia! By the order of Winston Churchill, on 17 July 1945, 100 square meters in the heart of London were proclaimed as our territory. This was done so that Crown Prince Alexander II could be born in “his country”. The Prince was born on the second floor of the Claridges hotel, in suite 212. In The Claridges, Serbia is luxurious, elegant, refined, warm, fragrant, attractive, and artistically well-lit.

In this luxurious hotel, ever since 1860 when Queen Victoria came here, celebrations are traditionally held, organized by the entire European nobility, from the baptizing events to weddings, that can fit 800 guests. Because all the cousins of the Queen of England organize their celebrations here, this is often called the “branch office of the Buckingham Palace”. The foyer and the bars in the art-deco style are an ideal place for intrigues and Palace affairs. Even today, one can often hear the anecdote when someone had dialed the receptionist and asked for a King, to which the receptionist replied: “Which King?”, because there are no European aristocrats who have not stayed here. But, of all the countries in the world, only Serbia has a territory here. In The Claridges, at any given moment, it is possible to come across someone from Serbia. The students of the Hoteliers’ College (Viša hotelijerska škola) from Belgrade get their practice here. We came across Milan Sudar, one of the best receptionists, awaiting a promotion.

- In 2001, several managers from The Claridges came to the Hoteliers’ College in Belgrade. They selected 19 of us, including Professor Miro Lončar, and took us to London, Sudar says. We all got beginners’ positions and a chance to prove ourselves. At first, I carried the luggage, now I am a receptionist. This is good for my career, but more money can be made as a luggage-carrier, he says.

The Claridges reception is like the Command Centre at NASA. Phones are ringing all the time, selected guests demand all sorts of things. This is where Thomas Keatley (spelling?) works, one of the finest concierges around, who can get literally anything that the guests ask for.

- One asked for a white horse carriage, to propose to his girlfriend; another asked for a Formula racing car, and he got those things for them, Sudar says. – In 3 years, I have seen a countless number of celebrities: Mike Jagger, Michael Douglas, Christian Slater, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Vojislav Kostunica… To me, they are all ordinary guests.

In this hotel, it is not enough just to have money. In order to get a suite, the guest must have a “name” and a tradition of coming here. Because of this, when Prince Alexander and Princess Katherine come here, they get a special treatment, and managers start running around them.

- Prince Alexander was born here and is part of the history of this hotel, which is what we all appreciate very much, says Neal Penlington, one of the managers. Suite 212 is reserved for almost every day of the year, even though it costs 5,500 euros per diem. Still, not everyone can stay here, because we are very selective of our guests.