Alexander, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia
Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia[1] sometimes called Prince Aleksandar Karađorđević (Aleksandar Karađorđević, born July 17, 1945) is the current pretender to the abolished thrones of Yugoslavia and Serbia.[2][3]
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Alexander is the son of Peter II, the last king of Yugoslavia, who was from the Karađorđević dynasty, and Princess Alexandra of Greece. He claims the title King of Yugoslavia, but his claim to that title is unrecognised either by the Yugoslav and Serbian states or by any country.[4]
Status at birth
As with some other monarchs in their own states during World War II, King Peter II left Yugoslavia in April 1941 to establish a government-in-exile. He arrived in London in June 1941. Shortly after the occupation, two puppet governments were formed: Independent State of Croatia in the region of Croatia and Bosnia, and Nedić's Government of national salvation in Serbia.
After the Teheran Conference, the Allies shifted support from royalist Chetniks to communist Partisans. In June 1944, Ivan Šubašić, a royal envoy, and Josip Broz (Tito), a partisan leader, signed an agreement which was an attempt to merge the royal and communist governments.
On November 29, 1943, AVNOJ (formed by Partisans) declared themselves the sovereign government of Yugoslavia and proclaimed taking away all legal rights from the Royal government. On August 10, 1945, less than a month after Karađorđević's birth, AVNOJ named the country Democratic Federal Yugoslavia.
On November 29, 1945, the country was declared a republic, and changed its name to Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.
In 1947, his family lost Yugoslavian citizenship and all property.
Life
Alexander was born at Claridge's Hotel in Brook Street, London. The British Government temporarily ceded sovereignty over the suite in which the birth occurred to Yugoslavia so that the prince would be born on Yugoslav territory.
His godparents were King George VI and then Princess Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II. The son of King Peter II and Queen Alexandra (born a Princess of Greece), he was educated at Gordonstoun, Institut Le Rosey, and Sandhurst.
On July 1, 1972 at the Villamanrique de la Condesa, in Seville, Spain, he was married to Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Braganca. They had three sons, Hereditary Prince Peter and twins Alexander and Philip. They were divorced in 1985. Crown Prince Alexander married Katherine Clairy Batis, daughter of Robert Batis and his wife Anna Dosti, legally on September 20, 1985, and religiously the following day, at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Notting Hill, London.
Alexander first came to Yugoslavia in 1991. He moved to Yugoslavia after Slobodan Milošević was deposed in 2000. In March 2001 Yugoslavian citizenship was given to him by the government and property seized from his family, including royal palaces, were returned.
He currently lives in Beli Dvor (the King's summer palace) in Belgrade, formerly the residence of President Tito.
He would be in line to the British throne, had he not married a Catholic woman. As it is, his sons are in the line, currently in 91st, 92nd and 93rd place.
Throne aspirations
Karađorđević is a proponent of establishing parliamentary monarchy in Serbia within its current borders and sees himself as the rightful king. He believes that monarchy would give Serbia "stability and unity".[5]
Some of the political parties and organizations which support monarchy in Serbia are Serbian Renewal Movement, Serbian Demochristian Party, Serbian Orthodox Church and Obraz. The assassinated former Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić could often be seen in the company of the prince and his family, supporting their campaigns and projects, although his Democratic Party never publicly embraced monarchy. This is true for most other relevant parties in Serbia; it seems that no party is ready to energetically push the issue of monarchy either because of other grave problems in the country or from fear or further fragmenting the already fragmented and unpredictible Serbian electorate, thus the prince seems to be used by political figures for populist aspirations of politicians.
Prince Alexander has vowed to stay out of politics and has so far fulfilled this promise, sticking mainly to the royal couple's humanitarian work. Though generally ignored by the media although he seems to be reasonably popular amongst the people. In a meeting held at the royal palace he and his royal council were criticized by representatives of the NGOs and other activist groups for his public image usually tied to extreme nationalists and the church, which is in sharp contrast with his stated ideals of liberal democracy, tolerance and diversity in Serbia.
The prince however has increasingly participated in public functions alongside the leaders of the Serbian and Yugoslav republics and members of the Diplomatic corp. On May 11 2006 he hosted a reception at the White Palace for delegates attending a summit on Serbia and Montenegro. The reception was attended by the Governor of the National Bank of Serbia, as well as ambassadors and diplomatics from Slovenia, Poland, Brazil, Japan, United States and Austria. He later delivered a key-note speech in front of prime ministers Vojislav Kostunica and Milo Djukanovic. In the speech he spoke of prospective Serbian membership of the European Union. He told delegates:
- In addition, we in Serbia and Montenegro must take into account that whatever form we take within the European Union, we have only but one choice and that is to work for the common good of all member nations. It is also central to take into account that stability in our region will be enhanced when Serbia is fully at peace with itself.[6]
Pending the status resolution of Serbia and Montenegro following Montenegro's independence referendum on May 21, 2006 reinstitution of Serbian monarchy may again become an issue in daily political debate. A monarchist proposal for the new Serbian constitution has been published along side other proposals.
The prince raised the issue of a royal restoration in the immediate aftermath of the vote. In a press release issued on the 24 May 2006 he stated:
- It has been officially confirmed that the people of Montenegro voted for independence. I am sad, but I wish our Montenegrin brothers peace, democracy and happiness. The people of Montenegro are our brothers and sisters no matter what if we live in one or in two countries, that is how it was and that is how it will be forever.
- ...I strongly believe in the Constitutional Parliamentary Kingdom of Serbia. Again, we need to be proud, a strong Serbia that is at peace with itself and with its neighbors. We were a proud, respected and happy country in the days of my great grandfather King Peter I. So, we can do it! Only if we have a form of governance close to the Serbian soul: the Kingdom of Serbia.
- ...Simply, the King is above daily politics, he is the guardian of national unity, political stability and continuity of the state. In Constitutional Parliamentary Monarchies the King is the protector of public interest: there is no personal or party interest. What is most important is the interest of Serbia.
- ...I am ready to meet all our politicians; we have to work together for the common good of Serbia, and to be friends in the name of the future of our country. I appeal for the end of the continuous wrangling, division and arguments. I appeal for mature democratic debate in the interest of Serbia. Serbia must have clear and realistic objectives.[7]
Footnotes
- ^ The title Crown Prince is a courtesy title, not a constitutional office, in a former monarchy that has now become a republic. The last holder of a monarchical title traditionally continues to hold that title as a courtesy title for their lifetime. It dies with them and cannot be inherited by a successor unless the monarchy is restored. Alexander was born while his father was still King of Yugoslavia, making him Yugoslavia's last crown prince unless the monarchy is restored.
- ^ The name Kingdom of Yugoslavia was adopted in 1929.
- ^ Montenegro, one of the two remaining member states of the Yugoslav Federation voted in May 2006 to leave Yugoslavia and become an independent country.
- ^ Alexander's website claims.
- ^ Royalfamily.org press release press release.
- ^ Press release by Alexander's chancellery.
- ^ Press release. 24 May 2006.
| Preceded by: Peter II |
House of Karađorđević 1970- |
Succeeded by: Prince Peter of Yugoslavia (heir apparent) |
