EASTER PRESENTS FOR THE CHILDREN WITHOUT PARENTAL CARE AND REFUGEE CHILDREN AT THE WHITE PALACE

Belgrade, 26 April 2003 – Today, on Good Saturday, TRH Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Philip and the members of Princess Katherine’s family, her father, Mr. Robert Batis, her mother Mrs. Ana Batis, her son David, her daughter Alison and her grandson Michael hosted about 1000 refugee children and the children without parental care from all over Serbia, at the White Palace, on the occasion of Easter Holidays.

Among the young ones who visited the White Palace were the children from Serbian orphanages, Romany children, the children from the Center for protection of Youth in Belgrade and the children from associations and schools for mentally challenged children from Belgrade.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander II welcomed the children saying: “Easter is a great holiday that brings joy to everybody and we wanted to share that joy with you. I want you to be happy, to have smiles on your faces and to have the most wonderful memories of this day.”

Together with Their Royal Highnesses the children were greeted by His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo, who spoke about Easter as the greatest and the most joyous Christian holiday.

Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Philip and the members of Princess Katherine’s family expressed their great pleasure for sharing the joy of Easter holidays, that the Royal family is celebrating for the second time in Belgrade.

Then the children looked for Easter eggs hidden in the nearby park together with Their Royal Highnesses.

Each child was given Easter presents consisting of candies and toys and Princess Katherine pointed out that those presents are symbolical and that the greatest gift is enormous love that she and her family have for all our children.