Originariamente Scritto da
Zarskoeselo
Principessa Maria Pia (* Napoli 24-9-1934), Dama dell’Ordine dei Santi
Maurizio e Lazzaro e Dama d’Onore e Devozione del Sovrano Militare
Ordine di Malta.
a) = Cascais 12-5-1955 Alessandro Karageorgevich Principe di
Iugoslavia (* White Lodge, Richmond 13-8-1924), divorzia a
Versailles 12-1966;
Biography of
HRH Crown Prince Alexander II
In April 1941 after the Nazis attacked and occupied Yugoslavia the country's young King Peter II left in the wake of the invading German forces for Athens Greece with the Yugoslav government. The King and his countrymen were determined not to surrender to the invaders in the best tradition of the founder of the Dynasty, Karadjordje ("Black George") Petrovic who led the heroic uprising of the Serbs against the Ottoman Empire in 1804. From Athens King Peter and his government went to Jerusalem and then Cairo. Finally King Peter II established the Yugoslav government in exile in London.
In 1944 in London King Peter II married Princess Alexandra of Greece the daughter of HM King Alexander of the Hellenes and Aspasia Manos. On 17 July 1945 while living in Claridge’s Hotel Queen Alexandra gave birth to a son - HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Yugoslavia.
Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill declared suite 212 in Claridge’s Hotel Yugoslav territory. His Holiness Patriarch Gavrilo of Serbia baptized the newborn Crown Prince in Westminster Abbey. His godparents were King George VI and the then HRH Princess Elizabeth now HM The Queen Elizabeth II.
After the war King Peter II was illegally prevented from returning to Yugoslavia by the communist regime that had seized power in Belgrade. HM King Peter never abdicated. The King and Queen lived in exile in many lands (USA, France, Italy and England).
HRH Crown Prince Alexander II was educated at Le Rosey (Switzerland), Culver Military Academy (Indiana, USA), Gordonstoun School (Scotland) and Millfield (England). He subsequently went to the British Royal Military Academy. In 1966 he was commissioned in the British Army and served in the 16th/5th The Queen's Royal Lancers rising to the rank of Captain. His tours of duty included the Middle East, Italy and West Germany. Since leaving the army in 1972 Crown Prince Alexander II who speaks several languages pursued a career in business.
After a long illness King Peter II died in 1970 in Denver Colorado USA. Although the Crown Prince decided at the time not to use the title of King - which would have had little meaning in exile - he never renounced his title, or the dynastic right to the throne.
In 1972, HRH married HIRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans and Braganza (first cousin of His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain) of the Imperial Family of Brazil in Villamanrique de la Condesa Spain. They had three children. The eldest son Prince Peter was born in 1980 in Chicago, Illinois USA; and fraternal twin sons Prince Philip and Prince Alexander were born in 1982 in Fairfax, Virginia (USA). The marriage ended in 1983. In 1985 The Crown Prince married in London Katherine Batis from Athens Greece. HM King Constantine of the Hellenes was the best man.
In 1991 Crown Prince Alexander accompanied by HRH Crown Princess Katherine, HRH Hereditary Prince Peter, HRH Prince Philip and HRH Prince Alexander traveled to Serbia and were they were very enthusiastically received by hundreds of thousands of people who see the Crown Prince as the embodiment of all that is best for Serbia’s democracy as a Constitutional Monarchy. Before the 5 October 2000 revolution the Crown Prince also visited Serbia in 1992, 1995 and 2000. The Crown Prince traveled to Montenegro and Kosovo in 1999 and Bosnia and Montenegro in 2000. Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander have been living in The Royal Palace Belgrade since July 2001.
The Crown Prince is a very ardent defender of democracy and human rights. HRH decided in 1989 to take a very active role in helping his people shake off the legacy of decades of dictatorship and the regime of Slobodan Milosevic. HRH conducted meetings and maintained constant contact with the democratic opposition and democrats throughout the former Yugoslavia. In November 1999 HRH convened a large conference in Budapest Hungary for the Democratic Opposition. Another symposium in Bosnia in January 2000 followed the Budapest conference. In April 2000, the Crown Prince convened a large key conference in Athens Greece. The Crown Prince has been a tireless contributor in the process of co-operation and unity amongst the democratic political parties to make his homeland a great democracy for all citizens regardless of political belief, religion or ethnic origin.
The Crown Prince has traveled extensively, met with numerous world leaders, politicians, parliamentarians, and world bodies, and given many interviews to the media.
HRH Crown Prince Alexander II enjoys skiing, sailing, water skiing, scuba diving and under-water photography. He was British Army Ski Champion in 1972. His other interests include music, theatre, information technology, and current affairs.