THE ROYAL FAMILY PAID RESPECTS TO THE MEMORY OF HM KING ALEXANDER I

Belgrade, 9 October 2009 – A Memorial Service was held at Oplenac today, on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of the assassination of His Majesty King Alexander I of Yugoslavia.

The Holy Liturgy in the blessed memory of HM King Alexander I was served by His Grace Bishop of Sumadija Jovan and clergy of Sumadija Diocese in the Church of St. George in Oplenac. HRH Crown Princess Katherine attended the Holy Liturgy service, and afterwards she was guest at lunch that His Grace Bishop of Sumadija Jovan, HM King Peter I Foundation and Mr. Dragan Jovanovic, Mayor of Topola have organized for distinguished state and clergy guests.

With church bells ringing, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II (grandson), Prince Philip (great grandson), Prince Vladimir (grandson), Crown Princess Katherine and Princess Brigitta, together with members of the Crown Council laid wreaths at HM King Alexander I tomb in the mausoleum of the Church of St. George in Oplenac. Wreaths were laid by members of the diplomatic corps, HE Mr. Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Defence and by H.E. Mr. Boris Tadic, President of the Republic of Serbia on behalf of the State.

After the commemoration, an exhibition “Statesman and warrior path of King Alexander I Karadjordjevic” was officially opened at HM King Peter I house in Oplenac by H.E. Mr. Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Defence. Academician Prof. Dr Slobodan Perovic, member of the Crown Council, H.E. Mr. Dragan Sutanovac, Minister of Defence and HRH Crown Prince Alexander II addressed the guests.

Following the ceremony in Oplenac, Their Royal Highnesses, together with the members of the Crown Council and H.E. Mr. Nils Krister Bringeus, Ambassador of Sweden, went to Avala, where they laid wreaths at the Monument of Unknown Hero. Members of the Crown Council who went to Avala were Mr. Matija Beckovic, Prof. Dr Dragoljub Kavran, Mr. Dusan Babac, Prof. Dr Miroslav Gasic, Mr. Djurdje Ninkovic, Prof. Dr Slobodan Perovic, Mr. Vladan Zivulovic, Mr. Predrag Markovic, Mr. Milan Parivodic, Dr Igor Georgijev, Mr. Darko Spasic, Ms. Ana Godjevac and Mr. Milan Markovic, counsellor to Minister of Economy.

Earlier today in Marseilles, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Prince Philip attended a commemoration for the Late King and the late Monsieur Louis Barthou, Foreign Minister of France in Marseille, France, together with H.E. Mr. Vuk Jeremic, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and H.E. Dr Dusan Batakovic, Serbian Ambassador to France and member of the Privy Council.

HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was assassinated on 9 October 1934 in Marseille at the beginning of his State Visit to France. The French Foreign Minister Mr. Louis Barthou was also killed.

The King’s death deeply moved the whole of Yugoslavia and sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people paid their respects all along the funeral route through Yugoslavia to the Royal Crypt at Oplenac. HM King Alexander I was buried in the Mausoleum of the Church of St. George, built by his father HM King Peter I.

In recognition of his greatest accomplishments, namely the fact that the King Alexander I led the Serbian Army during the Balkan War and World War One and was the key person in the unification of Southern Slavs into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, the National Parliament and the Senate of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia named him Knight-King Alexander I the Unifier.

HM King Alexander I was the Supreme Commander of the Serbian Army in the First World War. On 24 June 1914 he was appointed the Regent of Serbia. After the death of his father, HM King Peter I in 1921, he ascended the throne and became King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In 1929 he became King of Yugoslavia. HM King Alexander I and HM Queen Maria had three sons, HM King Peter II (father of Crown Prince Alexander II), HRH Prince Tomislav and HRH Prince Andrej. In 1934 HM King Peter II succeeded HM King Alexander I as King of Yugoslavia.

The Royal Family would like to thank all those who came to Oplenac today and paid their respects to HM King Alexander I of the blessed memory.