ROYAL COUPLE VISITED KRAGUJEVAC

17th April 2006 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, accompanied by their honourable guest from the United States of America, Mrs Dennis Hale, visited Kragujevac today.

During their stay in the heart of Sumadija, Crown Couple and their distinctive guest visited Kragujevac University, Vuk Karadzic Elementary School, Clinical Centre, Orphanage “Mladost”, Eparchy of Sumadija, Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph and City Assembly.

While visiting University of Kragujevac, great humanitarian and philanthropist, personal friend of Princess Katherine Mrs. Denis Hale decided to give annual scholarship for eleven best students of this University.

Crown Prince and Crown Princess donated afterwards highly valuable medical equipment for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Clinical Centre Kragujevac. Donation has been provided by HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation, assisted by Mrs. Denis Hale. On this occasion, Princess Katherine said:

“I am very glad that today we are able to start delivery of the humanitarian equipment. We raised funds for this equipment in January, during the great charity event in Greece”. Princess also thanked for contribution to the assistants from her Foundation and from the Humanitarian Organization Lifeline Hellas, who worked very hard in order to provide arrival of the equipment to Kragujevac on time.

Orphanage “Mladost” also received donation from HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation.

In Eparchy of Sumadija Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine met with His Grace Bishop Jovan. In Roman Catholic Church of St. Joseph they met with Reverend Stjepan Vinojcic.

Finalizing the visit to Kragujevac, Crown Couple met with Mr. Veroljub Stevanovic City Mayor and other officials of Kragujevac in City Assembly. On that occasion, Crown Prince handed over to Mr. Stevanovic a copy of Decree signed by His Majesty King Peter II. With this document His Majesty King Peter II officially announced in 1942 that Kragujevac will be honoured with Karadjordje Star with Swords Medal of the First Degree for heroism and suffering.

“This is the highest medal that has been given for war merits only, medal that no one has been honoured with during the Second World War and it surely belongs to all the citizens of Kragujevac. Unfortunately, neither decree nor medal has ever reached this town. I wish to change it as much as I can”, emphasised Crown Prince addressing Mr Veroljub Stevanovic, City Mayor of Kragujevac.