GALA CONCERT OF THE BELGRADE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA IN HONOUR OF THE 60TH BIRTHDAY OF HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II

Belgrade, 15 July 2005 – The celebration of the 60th birthday of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II began with a gala concert by the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra at Kalemegdan Fortress this evening. Beside Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, Their Royal Highnesses Hereditary Prince Peter, Princes Philip and Prince Alexander, and other members of the family, the concert was attended by many high dignitaries from all over the world.

The gala concert at the Kalemegdan Fortress was enhanced by the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (Head of State), Her Royal Highness Princess Chantal of France and Baron Francois-Xavier de Samboucy de Sorgue, Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina and Mr. Desmond De Silva with their daughter Victoria (Princess Katarina is the daughter of Prince Tomislav), Their Royal Highnesses Prince Serge Karadjordjevic and Princess Eleonora (Prince Serge is the son of Prince (Knez) Alexander Paul), former President of South Africa and Mrs. Frederic William de Klerk, former Prime Minister of Bermuda The Hon Sir David and Lady Gibbons, Lord Janner of Braunstone QC (House of Lords, Labour), Lord and Lady Renwick (House of Lords, Labour).

Beside the guests who have arrived to Belgrade to celebrate the 60th birthday of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, the concert of the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra was also attended by HE Mr. Prvoslav Davinic, Minister of Defence and his wife Marija, HE Dr. Milan Parivodic, Minister of International Economic Relations and his wife Alexandra, HE Mr. Radomir Naumov, Minister of Energy and Mining, Mr. Radovan Jelasic, the Governor of the National Bank, as well as the members of the advisory bodies of the Crown: Mr. Dragomir Acovic, Mr. Branko Terzic, Mr. Vladimir Gajic, Prof. Dr. Dragoljub Kavran, Prof. Dr. Kosta Cavoski, Prof. Dr. Dragomir Vitorovic and Prof. Dr. Slobodan Vitanovic and many other public figures.

The Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra performed a concert honouring Belgrade, the capital of Serbia and Montenegro and all of its citizens, and was conducted by maestro Dorian Wilson, who has come to our country especially for this occasion.

The concert was open to the public, who has enjoyed the well known pieces of famous composers. During the performance of the Handel’s “Royal Fireworks Music” a magnificent fireworks was displayed above Kalemegdan.

After the concert, the present were addressed by HE Mr. Davinic, the Minister of Defence, who pointed out he was particularly glad for seeing The Crown Prince was acknowledged and praised by his people. He wished The Crown Prince a happy reunion with his people, and stressed he was very happy because after so many years a dream has started to fulfil, in a democratic country.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II thanked everybody for a wonderful evening and said: “I am happy for having all of you here tonight, and for being together at this wonderful historical place, with beautiful music and lights”. The Crown Prince addressed the foreign guests in English, welcoming them and expressing his great joy for seeing them all and for having the opportunity to spend time with them at The Royal Palace in Dedinje, and to show them the beauty of Belgrade and Serbia.

All along the path to the exit of the Kalemegdan Fortress, many citizens who gathered this evening at the event which started the celebration of the 60th birthday of His Royal Highness, which for the first time after over seventy years marks such an important jubilee of the Heir to the Serbian Throne in the capital city of Serbia, warmly congratulated birthday to The Crown Prince.