CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER II, PRINCE PHILIP AND H.E. MR. VUK JEREMIC AT MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR HIS MAJESTY KING ALEXANDER I IN MARSEILLE

Marseille, 9 October 2009 – A wreath laying ceremony was held this morning in Marseille, France, on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of the assassination of His Majesty King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and Monsieur Louis Barthou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of France.

The official state ceremony was organized by the French Government at the location where the assassination took place in Marseilles, France of HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia and Monsieur Louis Barthou the French Foreign Minister. The ceremony was attended by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, grandson of HM King Alexander I, accompanied by his son HRH Prince Philip, great grandson of HM King Alexander I, H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, who laid a wreath on behalf of the State of Serbia and H.E. Dr. Dusan Batakovic, Ambassador of Serbia to France.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II said it was a day of sorrow for him, and added that his grandfather was a first victim of fascism. “I came here with my son Philip to mark this sad day”, said HRH Crown Prince Alexander II. HRH Crown Prince Alexander II thanked H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, the Government of Serbia and H.E. Boris Tadic, President of Serbia, as well as France and Marseille, for making this commemoration possible.

“Laying a wreath at my great-grandfather’s monument is very special moment for all of us, and makes us think where we were 75 years ago, and where we are today”, said HRH Prince Philip and went on that he was very moved by today’s ceremony and warm welcome.

“We were together in wars, victories and losses, and today we are together in peace, with desire to live in united Europe”, said H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and added “Bullets fired at King Alexander, who was a victim of fascist and ustashe terrorism were fired at our country and European peace. King Alexander I was a Unifier, a man with deep respect for the history of his nation and profound vision of unity and integrations, which made him a first European leader in our history”.

In the afternoon following their return from France, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Prince Philip will lay a wreath on His Majesty’s tomb in the Church of St. George in Oplenac.