Prince Nicholas of Romania

Portrait of Prince Nicholas in 1923
Portrait of Prince Nicholas in 1923
Prince Nicholas with his medals
Prince Nicholas with his medals
Prince Nicholas in the Air Force
Prince Nicholas in the Air Force
Romanian Royalty
House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

Carol I
Children
   Princess Maria
Ferdinand I
Children
   Prince Carol
   Elisabeth, Queen of Greece
   Marie, Queen of Yugoslavia
   Prince Nicholas
   Ileana, Archduchess Anton of Austria
   Prince Mircea
Carol II
Children
   Prince Carol (morganatic child of Carol II)
   Prince Michael
Greatchildren
   Prince Paul
   Prince Ion
Michael I
Children
   Princess Margarita
   Princess Elena
   Princess Irina
   Princess Sophie
   Princess Maria

His Life

Prince Nicholas of Romania (1903-1978) was the second son of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania.

King Ferdinand's first son, Carol, renounced his rights of succession in 1925, so when Ferdinand died in 1927 he was succeeded as king by Carol's five year old son, Michael. Because of Michael's youth, a regency council had to be formed, and Prince Nicholas was forced to abandon his career in the British navy in order to return home to serve on the council.

Nicholas resented having to abandon his naval career and had no interest in politics. He was therefore at first delighted when Carol returned home to Romania in June 1930, becoming King Carol II and thus putting an end to the regency arrangement.

However, the cordial relations between Nicholas and Carol were short-lived. Nicholas wanted to marry a divorced woman but was aware that it might be embarrassing for Carol to have to authorize such a marriage. Carol himself suggested that the couple should marry without first seeking his consent (even though members of the royal family were required to obtain the king's consent before marrying). Carol had intimated that in these circumstances he would accept the marriage as a fait accompli, but after the wedding Carol promptly used it as an excuse to deprive Nicholas of his royal privileges and to exile him from Romania for a time.

Nicholas eventually married twice: in 1931 to Ioana Dumitrescu-Doletti (1902-63) and in 1967 to Thereza Figueira de Mello, with no issue of either marriage. He died in Madrid in 1978.

His Titles

Nicholas Hohenzollern, Air Marshal Romanian Air Force, hon. Lieut. British R.N., Knight of the Order of Ferdinand I of Romania, Bailiff Grand Cross of Sovereign Order of Malta, Grand Cross of Legion d’Honneur, Grand Cross of Order of Leopold I of Belgium; Order of White Lion of Czechoslovakia, of Karađorđević of Yugoslavia, of Holy Saviour of Greece; has chain or order of Carol I of Romania, and order of White Eagle of Poland, was chief of the Three Regents, July, 1927 - June, 1930, deprived of his royal rank and prerogatives by decision of the crown Council, 9 April, 1937, and received the name of Nicholas Brana, assumed by Royal Decree, 10 June, 1942, the surname of Hohenzollern, and was recognised as H.R.H. Prince of Hohenzollern, with his wife as H.R.H. Princess of Hohenzollern, 18 July, 1945 (34, Calle Alfonso XII, Madrid, 14 Spain, 65, Avenue de Bethusy, Lausanne, Switzerland), b. 18 Aug 1903, educ. Eton, m. lstly, 28 Oct 1931, Ioana. d. 17 Feb. 1963) (who in 1928 assumed her grandmother’s surname of Dolete), formerly wife of Radu Saveanu, and dau. of Ion Dumitrescu-Doleté, and by his wife Nella Teodoru, later Princess Tchkotoua. He m. 2ndly, June, 1967, Thereza Lisboa Figueira de Mello, of Brazil.

Marie of Romania and her son Prince Nicholas (copyright ajv private collection)
Marie of Romania and her son Prince Nicholas (copyright ajv private collection)
Nicky in Bambino
Nicky in Bambino
Queen Marie and her son, Prinţul Nicolae
Queen Marie and her son, Prinţul Nicolae
Nicholas in Roman style
Nicholas in Roman style
Nicholas in his youth
Nicholas in his youth


Styles of
Prince Nicholas of Romania
Reference style His Royal Highness
Spoken style Your Royal Highness
Alternative style Sir

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