PRNJAVOR AND SABAC WELCOME THE ROYAL COUPLE

Belgrade, 27 May 2003. - TRH Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine visited Prnjavor and Sabac today.

In front of the “Holy Prophet Elijah” Church, Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo, the Mayor of Sabac Mr. Dusan Petrovic, the principal of the school “King Alexander Karadjordjevic” Mrs. Jelena Avramovic and a great number of citizens.

Beside Their Royal Highnesses, this celebration was attended by HE the Ambassador of Switzerland Mr. Gaudenez Ruf.

At the beginning of the ceremony there was a doxology and then HRH Crown Prince Alexander II laid wreaths to the monuments of King Alexander , Dr Archibald Reis and the Charnel House of the WW I soldiers.

The Crown Prince addresses the citizens of Prnjavor from the same spot from which 70 years ago they were addressed by His grandfather King Alexander.

Expressing His pleasure for being in Prnjavor today on the occasion of the Day of the School that carries the name of His grandfather, The Crown Prince said:

“Prnjavor is the town that during its rich history several time played important role for the Dynasty of Karadjordjevic. On behalf of my ancestors I thank you for that.

Beside glorious past, I believe your town has better future, as well as our whole country. That future was the dream of our forefathers and they were ready to give there lives for it. It is up to us to unite around the goal to bring our country back in to the great European family of democratic countries. It is our debt both to our ancestors and our posterity. I hope and I expect that we shall all work together to achieve that goal”.

HE the Ambassador of Switzerland thanked the hosts for their warm welcome. Their Royal Highnesses then went to the school where the plaque with the its new name was unveiled. After that they saw the exhibition of the school’s pupil’s art works and then went to the Cultural Centre where they attended the celebration with cultural and artistic program.

The children performed the reconstruction of life in Prnjavor at the time of King Alexander and Dr Archibald Reis and in honour of HRH Crown Princess Katherine performed a meddle of songs and dances from Greece. Very excided the Princess applauded to the young artists.

Their Royal Highnesses continued the journey to Sabac where they visited the Health Centre “Dr Laza K. Lazarevic”, and delivered the donation of “Medicina TS” incubator (€ 3,000). The present were addressed by Princess Katherine:

“As you know my husband and I keep trying to provide as much as possible equipment for our hospitals. We came back to our country to help our people and we are going to continue doing so with all our strength”.

The Royal Couple took the tour of the surgical ward with 81 patients, where 1,800 operations are performed during the year.

After the visit to the hospital Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine were the quests of His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Valjevo at the Episcopal Residence, where they delivered the donation in bicycles from Greece, and clothes rallied in the great humanitarian program of the Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine and “YUTEF” – “Good deeds are always in fashion”. This donation will be forwarded to the orphanages in the Bishoprics of Sabac and Valjevo by His Grace Bishop Lavrentije.