STATEMENT OF THE CHANCELLARY OF HRH CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II

Belgrade, 30 August 2005 – The text published in the daily “Glas Javnosti” on 27 August, 2005 brings out one of the numerous sensationalistic stories of the reputed treasury that King Peter II intended to carry out, or had carried out of the country in April 1941. As well as its other versions, this story is not based on the facts, nor on documentation, but on the very unreliable statements of individuals that were not even directly involved in the story they tell.

King Peter II had to leave the country in a very quickly, since the Palace was also bombarded on 6 April 1941. During Tito’s regime, it often written and spoken about how The Royal Family fled with the entire treasure, which would be wonderful if it was true, because in that case The Crown Prince Alexander would have been living like an Emperor all these years. But that is not true. The Crown Prince Alexander had to work and to earn his living, and after he finished the Military Academy and ended his career in the Army, he worked in the field of advertising, banking, construction, and has always lived from his own work.

The propaganda that lasted through Tito’s time, but also after it – unfortunately seems to continue until the present day – and 60 years later, still finds its stronghold in such sensationalistic tales and myths. Firstly, because of professional journalist’s ethics, but also for the above-stated reasons, it would be very good to consult some other sources when similar cases are in question, and not to publish the texts before the facts are previously checked.