90th COMMEMORATION OF DEATH OF HIS MAJESTY KING PETER I

Belgrade, 16 August 2011 – A memorial service took place today at the St. George Church at Oplenac to mark the 90th commemoration of HM King Peter I death.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Vladimir (great grandson of HM king Peter I) and Princess Brigitta laid a wreath.

Due to previously accepted obligations abroad, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, the great grandson of HM King Peter I, was unable to attend the service. On his behalf Mr. Dragomir Acovic, member of the Privy Council, and Dr. Cedomir Antic and Mr. Milorad Savicevic, members of the Crown Cabinet, laid a wreath on the tomb of His Majesty King Peter I the Liberator.

His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija served the Holy Liturgy. H.E. Mr Predrag Markovic, Minister of culture, media and information society laid a wreath on behalf of the Government of Serbia. Official delegations from the Ministry of Labour and Social Politics, the Serbian Army, Municipality of Topola, representatives of HM King Peter I Foundation and many citizens attended the service. The ceremony was conducted with state and military honours.

After the ceremony, H.E. Mr. Predrag Markovic, opened an exhibition about King Peter I, the warrior King, in his house in Oplenac. This exhibition was organized by Historic museum of Serbia and Foundation of HM King Peter I.

King Peter I was the fifth child of Prince Alexander and Princess Persida (the daughter of Duke Jevrem Nenadovic), and a grandson of Karadjordje, the supreme leader of First Serbian uprising. He was born on St. Peter’s Day 11 July 1844. In the summer of 1883 he married Princess Ljubica-Zorka, the eldest daughter of the Montenegrin Prince Nikola in Cetinje, Montenegro. They had five children: two daughters Jelena and Milena and three sons Djordje (who renounced his right to the throne in 1909), Aleksandar and Andrija (died as a child). On 28 May 1903, a group of Serbian army officers organized a Coup d’Etat and proclaimed Prince Peter Karadjordjevic, then living in Switzerland, the new King of Serbia. The National Parliament confirmed this on 15 June 1903. King Peter I died on 16 August 1921 in Belgrade and was buried at the Royal Mausoleum of St. George Church in Oplenac.