THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER, CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE AND PRINCE ALEXANDER VISIT VIDO ISLAND AND SERBIAN MUSEUM IN CORFU

Corfu 24 July 2009 - Their Royal Highnesses, accompanied by Mr. George David, the Chairman of Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A, paid a visit yesterday to Vido Island and the Serbian museum in Corfu.

Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine had already visited Vido Island in the past, but this was Prince Alexander’s first visit. The Royal Family was very moved and impressed by what they saw and taken in by the history.

During the First World War Corfu Island was where the Serbian Army took refuge from occupied homeland. Serbia was occupied by Austria and Bulgaria. To insure the survival of the Serbia and ability to fight another day the Serbian army and the aged King Peter I and Crown Prince Alexander (Commander in Chief of the Serbian Army) made a strategic withdrawal through Albania to the island of Corfu and there the Serbian Army was refitted and reorganized. A very large portion of Serbian soldiers died from exhaustion, food shortage, and disease. Several thousand soldiers were buried at sea near the Island of Vido and on Vido Island there is mausoleum.

The Serbian Museum in Corfu town contains an excellent and impressive record and history with very photos about the Serbian Army retreat to Corfu.