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Royal Couple at Saint Sava Academy at the National Theatre

Belgrade, 27 January 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended the traditional Saint Sava Academy hosted by the Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development, HE Prof. Dr Tomislav Jovanovic tonight at the National Theatre in Belgrade.



At the Academy there were present H.E. Mr Tomislav Nikolic, president of Serbia, His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia, HE Mr Velimir Ilic, Minister of Construction and Urban Planning, His Grace Bishop Ignjatije of Branicevo, His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija, His Grace Bishop Andrej of Remezijana, His Eminence Monsignor Stanislav Hocevar, Roman Catholic Metropolitan and Archbishop of Belgrade, Mr Isak Asiel, Great Rabi of Serbia, representatives of Army of Serbia and numerous other distinguished guests.

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Personal attitude: Dušan Babac



Forgotten Royal Compound



We have finally got the date, and chapters will now start to open by themselves. One by one. Some of them will be easier, some a little more difficult. Many are about how and with whom we should make peace. Unfortunately, there is not one among them about what is most important for the survival of our nation - the chapter on how we should make peace with ourselves.



At the time when foreign words, primarily Anglicisms, have invaded our language to the extent that every day it is more and more difficult to recognize it, when its torchbearers are semiliterate starlets who never leave the small screen, at the time when our history has been pushed under the deepest archaeological layers, so that it can be reached only by those most aware and most persistent, when our very ethnicity is deeply affected by decades of systematic alleged genocide guilt planting and history revision that goes back hundreds of years, when our Church, as the embodiment of our faith is under attack from all sides, we are left with our culture as the last line of defence of our identity and our existence, in which we all have the opportunity to participate. All we have is our culture, the legacy of our ancestors, but today we're not quite sure what to do with it.



During the Second World War, Winston Churchill’s Finance Minister said Britain should funding the arts to support the war effort. Churchill's response was: “Then what are we fighting for?” It's a great quote, although whether Churchill actually said it is disputed. At the very least, he believed culture kept up morale in wartime; he was keen to keep theatres open, and strongly opposed the idea of sending art from the National Gallery abroad, preferring to store it safely underground. The point is, even the hawkish Churchill believed it was the government's duty to protect culture because culture is vital to the well-being of a nation, especially in a crisis. That is how great nations do it. What our situation is, we know very well. How long has the National Museum been closed, or the Museum of Contemporary Art, in what condition are other cultural institutions of national importance?



For all this time, without any notice, another museum complex, a pearl among our cultural and historical monuments, has been deteriorating - the Royal Compound in Dedinje. Although it gained the status of the protected cultural heritage by its formation, it has only recently officially received it. Just in time for the Law on restitution to exclude the possibility of its return “in natura” to the descendants of King Alexander, who had built it. I don’t even want to discuss the statutory maximum of monetary compensation, because that would be insulting. At one meeting, I was told by the then Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Law on Restitution, Bozidar Djelic, that it would be socially unacceptable to form now a new class of millionaires by restitution. When I asked him how it was socially acceptable to create a class of millionaires by transition, he had no answer. But perhaps this cultural-historical monument should remain in its integral form, the property and welfare of the state. In Europe, there are examples of both situations. The state took great care of the Royal Compound while Broz resided in it, and no less care when it was used by Milosevic. The moment when the Compound keys were handed over to Crown Prince Alexander in July 2001, the concern of the state stopped. Logical or not?



This situation changed in 2004, when the state continued to do what it did in previous years, not by its own conscience though, but at the suggestion of the World Bank. And so it did until 2008, when the then minister Brajovic asked the historical government’s opinion on whether the Royal Compound is under the Ministry of Culture’s jurisdiction or not. That opened the Pandora's Box of countless administrative problems, and coincided with the global economic crisis. Everything stopped halfway, including the status of its residents. The son of King Peter II and the grandson of King Alexander I now has only the tenancy right at the Compound. On the other hand, the Robespierrian republicans are passionately shouting that it is unacceptable for the Republic to pay for “certain Karadjordjevics” to live in and enjoy the Palaces. This is an ordinary thesis replacement, because the budget funds are used solely for preventive care and promotion of the Royal Compound as the monument of culture. That amount today is only a quarter of the amount for the same purpose in 2007.



Meanwhile, moisture soaks the Palaces’ walls and rust destroys installations that are over 80 years old. Nevertheless, the Royal Compound is still open to visitors, although tourism organizations of the city and the Republic very shyly advertise this option in their offerings. It appears as if they are ashamed and a little embarrassed, and it seems that we are all ashamed of the descendants of the father of our nation, Karadjordje. If it hadn’t been so, their status would have been recognized long time ago, as it is in Romania and Montenegro, which is much closer to us in every way, and in 2009 passed a law on the status of their dynasty’s descendants. A nation can hardly be successfully moving into the future if it has not reconciled with its own history and has not accepted its own identity.



The author is the Privy Council member and the Royal Palace Fund director

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21st Anniversary of HM Queen Alexandra’s death

Belgrade, 30 January 2014 – The clergy Oplenac Church served a requiem today for 21st Anniversary of death of Her Majesty Queen Alexandra.

Wreaths were laid at the tomb of HM Queen Alexandra after the service. On behalf of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II, son of HM Queen Alexandra and HM King Peter II, wreath was laid by Mr Predrag Markovic, member of the Crown Council.



Queen Alexandra was the daughter of HM King Alexander of the Hellenes and HRH Princess Aspasia of Greece and Denmark (née Aspasia Manos). Queen Alexandra was born in Athens Greece on 25 March 1921 and died on 30 January 1993 in East Sussex England. The Queen was educated at Westfield, the junior school of Heathfield, then she went to Heathfield. Following schooling in England, Queen Alexandra went to Mademoiselle Ozanne in Paris.



Queen Alexandra met HM King Peter II of Yugoslavia in London in 1942 and they have married in March 1944, and their son HRH Crown Prince Alexander was born in London on 17 July 1945.



The Queen was buried at Tatoi Palace Royal Cemetery near Athens and her remains were transferred to Royal Family Mausoleum at Oplenac in Serbia and reburied on Sunday 26 May 2013 during State funeral together with her husband, HM King Peter II, her mother-in-law HM Queen Maria and her brother-in-law HRH Prince Andrej.

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Princess Katharine and HRH Crown Prince Alexander II

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THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES AGAIN INVITED TO NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST IN WASHINGTON

Belgrade, 3 February 2014 – The Members of the Congress of the United States of America have again invited Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine to the 62nd Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, Thursday 6 February, with the President of the United States and other national leaders in the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches of the United States government.

Their Royal Highnesses were delighted to have received the invitation and look forward to attend once again the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC.

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Hereditary Prince Peter’s birthday

Belgrade, 4 February 2014 – His Royal Highness Hereditary Prince Peter will celebrate his thirty-fourth birthday on Wednesday, February 5, in the company of his close friends.



Hereditary Prince Peter was born 5 February 1980 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the eldest son of HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HIRH Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans and Bragança. Prince Peter is the grandson of HM King Peter II and HM Queen Alexandra. His Godfather is HRH Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, son of HRH Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia.



Prince Peter lived in Chicago until the end of 1981, when he moved with his parents to Virginia. In 1983, he first attended morning pre-school in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia, following this he went to day school. In 1988 at the age of eight, he attended one of London’s top preparatory day schools.



Prince Peter graduated from The King’s School Canterbury in England having obtained three “A” level’s in Art, Spanish and French, and ten GCSE’s (General Certificate of Secondary Education).



Prince Peter completed in London an art foundation course at Camberwell College of Arts (London Institute). He also completed a series of design and illustration programmes on the European continent mainly in Barcelona and Seville. After spending a year at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) on the East Coast of the United States, he started working in the field of graphic design and art direction in London and New York, working with many international clients and brands. His passions include collaborating with other creatives outside of his direct area of expertise to achieve new and exciting visual concepts and ideas in a variety of media.



The Royal Family thanks everyone who so kindly sent birthday congratulations.

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Their Royal Highnesses again attend National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC

Belgrade, 6 February 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine attended today the 62nd Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC, with the President of the United States and other national leaders in the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches of the United States government. Their Royal Highnesses were invited by the Members of the Congress of the United States of America.



The 62nd Annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC was also attended by H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Serbia, members of the Parliament Mr Zoran Babic and Mr Vladimir Marinkovic, Mr. Vuk Draskovic, leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, Dr Dusko Knezevic, president of Atlas Group.

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HRH Alexander II Karageorgevitch

With all our hearts we're rooting for Serbia!
With all our hearts we're with the Olympic team of Serbia!
Serbia is the land of champions!



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Royal couple attends National Day of Serbia celebration in New York

New York, 11 February 2014 - Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, together with HE Mr Ivica Dacic, Serbian Prime Minister, attended the celebration of the National Day of Serbia in New York last night, organised by the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in New York and Mrs Mirjana Zivkovic, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in New York.

Serbian Statehood Day in New York was attended by the representatives of the diplomatic corps at the United Nations, the leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, Mr Vuk Draskovic and Lifeline New York representatives. The National Day of the Republic of Serbia is 15 February. This date is one of the most important political, cultural, and historical dates in Serbia. In addition to the National Day, it is also the Serbian Constitution Day, and Remembrance Day of the First Serbian Uprising, which was led by the Supreme Leader Karadjordje, the ancestor of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II. Serbian Statehood Day had been celebrated until the establishment of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, after which it was abandoned, and it was reinstated and celebrated again in Serbia in 2002.

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Royal Family at National Day and 210th anniversary of First Serbian Uprising celebration

Belgrade, 15 February 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Prince Philip, accompanied by academician Mr Matija Beckovic, member of the Crown Council, Mr Vladan Zivulovic, member of the Privy Council Mr Dusan Babac, and a member of the Crown Cabinet Mr Djurdje Ninkovic, attended the ceremony of marking the National Day of Serbia and the 210th anniversary of the First Serbian Uprising in Orasac. Ceremony was attended by Mr. Vladimir Bozovic, state secretary at the Ministry of the interior and Mr. Dragan Jovanovic, mayor of Topola.



The celebration began with Holy Liturgy officiated by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija and the clergy of Sumadija diocese.



A memorial service was held in Maricevica Gully, where HRH Crown Prince Alexander II, laid wreath on the monument to Karadjordje. A speeches was delivered by HRH Crown Prince Alexander, and His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija.



In his speech, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II emphasised: “Exactly two hundred and ten years ago, at this place, the most prominent Serbs came to a decision to begin the uprising against the Ottoman occupation. They chose my great-great-great-grandfather Karadjordje as their leader. Every time I come to Orasac, I feel immeasurable pride of our ancestors, but also huge responsibility towards their magnificent achievement – the restoration of Serbian State. I think we should all more often than once a year, on the Presentation of Our Lord’s Day, remember our ancestors. We should find inspiration in their courage and find reliance in their entrepreneurship. We should remember more often how two hundred years ago times were certainly more difficult than today and how the fathers of our nation surely faced incomparably bigger obstacles than those that are in front of us today. We should also more often remember how great men our ancestors were, although they were no saints, and how our history in the nineteenth century, despite tribulations, was filled with glorious successes. One of such shining historical moment was by all means the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising, and I am very happy to celebrate the memory of it with you here today. Let the courage and entrepreneurship of our ancestors be our paragon for the future, so that we, too, can leave our descendants something to be proud of.”



After that, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Philip and the members of the advisory bodies of the Crown attended a memorial service in the church of St. George in Oplenac, officiated by His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija. Then His Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander laid a wreath on the tomb of Karadjordje, the Supreme Leader of the First Serbian Uprising.



Later in the evening TRH Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Prince Philip will attend a reception on the occasion of the National Day, hosted by the Serbian President HE Mr Tomislav Nikolic, at the Presidency. After that, Their Royal Highnesses will attend a concert by the Royal Strings of St George, the orchestra under the auspices of HRH Prince Philip, which will be held in Sabac, in the theatre “Ljubisa Jovanovic”.

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Their Royal Highnesses at Presidential reception and Royal Strings of St George concert in Sabac

Belgrade, 15 February 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Prince Philip attended this afternoon a reception on the occasion of Serbian statehood Day, hosted by H.E. Mr Tomislav Nikolic, President of Republic of Serbia. In the evening, Their Royal Highnesses attended a concert given by the Royal Strings of St George at Sabac theatre “Ljubisa Jovanovic”. The concert was also attended His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Mr. Milos Milosevic, Mayor of Sabac.



The Royal Strings of St George is under the auspices of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, and the concert was held on the occasion of today's National Day. The repertoire included the Symphony in G-major by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and the Quartet op. 95 by Ludwig Van Beethoven.

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Finnish accelerator Startup Sauna today at the Royal Palace





Belgrade, 4 April 2014 - Royal Council of Entrepreneurship organized a visit of Finnish accelerator Startup Sauna, that gave local startup companies an opportunity to get acquainted with another European accelerator today at the Royal Palace, while local startups had an opportunity to present themselves in standard 3 minutes pitches, and then to attend 1-on-1 mentor sessions.



Startup Sauna is the one of most prominent Scandinavian accelerators, that connects startups from North and Eastern Europe and Russia. 109 companies have been through their programs so far, that have raised 34 million US dollars investments. Beside feedback and validation of their business models, best startups had an opportunity to be chosen for the program of this accelerator, that includes 5 weeks stay in Helsinki and participation at one of Europe’s biggest startup events – Slush, that has gathered 1,200 startups from 70 countries, 300 angel investors and 100 VC funds last year.



Royal Council of Entrepreneurship has invited this accelerator first of all because it provides an added value for startups through individual sessions with mentors, and 8 to 10 chosen teams in Belgrade will have this opportunity. Three mentors from this accelerator as well as several of them from Belgrade have granted 20 minutes to each participant.



Relying on the expertise and aggregate knowledge and experience of its founders, the Council operates under the aegis of the Royal Palace with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II acting as its Patron. The principle aims of the Council's mission are to facilitate coordination and collaboration among Serbia’s leading organizations involved in the development and support of entrepreneurship and innovation. The Royal Council for Entrepreneurship also provides a single voice to the media, the Serbian government and industry regarding the needs of investors and opportunities available to them. The founding members of the Council are the Serbian Private Equity Association (SPEA), the Serbian Business Angels Network (SBAN), the Innovation Fund, the Business Technology Incubator of the Technical Faculties of Belgrade (BITF), Serbian Venture Network (SeVeN - Belgrade Venture Forum), SEE ICT and Startup Weekend Belgrade.

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