[Ројалист]

Crown Prince Alexander pays respect to Serbian and French Pilots from World War I in Smederevska Palanka

12/09/2015

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander attended a ceremony in remembrance of Serbian and French pilots from the WWI and unveiling of the monument today in Smederevska Palanka.

After that, wreaths were laid by HRH Crown Prince Alexander, HE Mrs Christine Moro, ambassador of the Republic of France, HE Mrs Dagmar Repcekova, ambassador of the Slovak Republic, Mr Dragan Popovic, state secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, Mr Slavoljub Djuric, President of the Municipal Assembly of Smederevska Palanka, Col. Antonios Kostakis, Defence attaché at the Greek embassy, Mr Jean Claude Seguela, one of descendants of the French pilots, representatives of Association of Air Club “Prijedor” and Association of war volunteers.



In his address, Crown Prince Alexander emphasised: “I am very happy to be here today at the unveiling of the monument to the French and Serbian pilots of World War I. My grandfather, His Majesty King Alexander, had a pioneering role in the development of Serbian aviation. He was the first Serb who flew a plane, near Paris, in 1910. As the supreme commander of the Serbian army in the Great War, my grandfather regularly visited the French “Squadron MF 99”, which made a great contribution to the Serbian war efforts. My father, His Majesty King Peter II was a pilot with the British Royal Air Force during World War II. As their proud descendant, I congratulate all the organizers on the unveiling of this exceptional monument. It will be a reminder to the new generations of the glory days of the Kingdom of Serbia and its wartime alliance with France.”