[Владимир Петровић]

Crown Princess Katherine congratulates World Health Day

Belgrade, 7 April 2014 – Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine extended her congratulations to Dr Miljana Grbic, Head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Office in Serbia, on the occasion of the World Health Day.



In her letter of congratulations, the Crown Princess emphasized: “My husband, Crown Prince Alexander and I strongly support all the efforts that are focused on improving the health sector in our country, as a crucial element of Serbia’s developmental efforts. A Highly effective and rationalized health care system will help our doctors and other health professionals to adopt new standards and improve the quality of care for all our citizens.”



Under patronage of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Day is celebrated on the 7 April every year, and the topic for 2014 is vector-borne diseases, followed by the slogan “Small creatures, big threat“.



Vectors are organisms that transmit pathogens and parasites from one infected person (or animal) to another causing a wide range of diseases in human populations. They are most commonly found in tropical areas and places where access to safe drinking-water and sanitation systems are problematic.

Crown Prince Alexander’s letter for the International Roma Day

Belgrade, 7 April 2014 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II sent a letter to Professor Vitomir Mihajlovic, Head of the National Council of Roma National Minority in Serbia for April 8, the International Day of Roma.



“My wife and I strongly support all work that is focused on improving living standards and social participation of the Roma people in our country. In providing equal opportunities and access to health care, education and employment for all citizens of Serbia is a crucial element of our development and progress. The Humanitarian Foundation of my wife HRH Crown Princess Katherine has been strongly committed to support the Roma Associations and Roma children during previous years, and will try to continue doing so in the future”, emphasized the Crown Prince in his letter.

[Владимир Петровић]

Opening of traditional Easter handicrafts Bazaar of women refugees under auspices of Crown Princess Katherine Foundation



Belgrade, 10 April 2014 – Traditional Easter handicrafts Bazaar of women refugees will be open on Saturday, 12 April 2014, on 10 am at the Metropol Palace Hotel (Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 69) under auspices of HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation.



Bazaar will be officially open by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, together with Mr Vladimir Cucic, Commissioner for Regugees and Migrations of Republic of Serbia, in the presence of prominent figures of Serbian cultural and public life and members of diplomatic corps.



Bazaar will be open on Saturday and Sunday, Arpil 12 and 13, from 10 am till 8 pm.

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Princess Katherine delivers donation worth over 180,000 Euros to Uzice Hospital

Belgrade, 10 April 2014 – Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine visited today the city of Uzice and delivered humanitarian aid to Uzice General Hospital and Orphanage “Petar Radovanovic”.



Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine was welcomed by Mr Sasa Milosevic, Mayor of Uzice upon arrival. After the meeting at the City Hall, they proceeded to Uzice General Hospital where Princess Katherine officially delivered a very valuable humanitarian donation worth more than 180,000 Euros consisting of operating table, operating lamp, anaesthesia machine with monitoring, thermo cautery unit and an ultrasound machine.



“My humanitarian Foundation provided this valuable donation thanks to the huge help of Mr Micic and his company Putevi Uzice. We are donating the equipment for operational and cardio-surgical rooms today. Due to this valuable donation, it will be possible to perform cardio-surgical and other procedures for the first time in Uzice Hospital. That is very important for the city of Uzice, Zlatibor District and Western Serbia. My husband Crown Prince Alexander and I will continue to help the city of Uzice in the future together with our generous friends as we have been doing so far”, emphasized HRH Crown Princess Katherine.



HRH Crown Princess Katherine then visited the Home for children without parental care “Petar Radovanovic”, where she was welcomed by the director Mr Dragan Katic and children, and delivered a humanitarian donation consisting of toys and shoes, provided by Lifeline New York Humanitarian Organisation, under her patronage in the United States of America.



Also during her stay in Uzice, HRH Crown Princess Katherine was a companied by the Very Reverend Milun Kostic (retired) priest of St Sava Cathedral London United Kingdom, and they also visited St. George Church.

[Владимир Петровић]

Crown Prince Alexander extends congratulations for Passover holiday to the Jewish Community

Belgrade, 11 April 2014 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II sent his congratulations for the Passover Jewish holiday, to H.E. Mr. Yossef Levy, Ambassador of Israel to Serbia, Mr. Isaac Asiel, Great Rabbi of Serbia and leaders of Jewish communities.



Crown Prince Alexander II said in his congratulations: “I wish that you celebrate this great holiday in peace and serenity and that you and your beloved ones be blessed with good health and best of luck.”

[Владимир Петровић]

Crown Princess Katherine hosts children and young Serbian artists to paint Easter eggs at the White Palace

Belgrade, 12 April 2014 – Her Crown Princess Katherine hosted today children from International schools who gathered at the White Palace to take part in the “Children helping children – Easter April in Belgrade”, traditional project of HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation for helping children without parental care, Roma and refugee children.



HRH Crown Princess Katherine, accompanied by Ms Victoria de Silva, granddaughter of HRH Prince Tomislav and daughter of HRH Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia welcomed the children and said: “You have gathered here to paint Easter eggs and to help other, less fortunate children. My Foundation is running this programme for several years, and your participation and your help is very much appreciated. It is very important to understand that helping others and giving to others are the greatest things we can do in our life. That is something all of us should do.”



Young Serbian artists joined children from International schools to paint Easter eggs. The “silent auction” of Easter eggs and paintings was held at the White Palace, and all money raised would be used for buying Easter presents for children who would attend traditional Easter receptions at the White Palace on April 15. Children also brought presents with them.



Young ballerinas from the Royal Academy of Dance have performed a lovely programme for the guests.



This humanitarian event was organized in cooperation with Belgrade Open Art (BIA) Festival.

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Royal Couple Open Traditional Easter Women Refugee Bazaar

Belgrade, 12 April 2014 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, opened today the traditional Easter Bazaar of handicrafts of women refugees at the Hotel Metropol Palace in Belgrade. Together with Their Royal Highnesses, Ms Victoria de Silva, granddaughter of HRH Prince Tomislav and daughter of HRH Princess Katerina of Yugoslavia and her father, Sir Desmond de Silva QC, also attended this event.

At the beginning of the ceremony, guests and exhibitors were addresses by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, who officially opened the Bazaar as well as by Mrs Danijela Popovic – Roko, Assistant Commissioner for refugees.

In her speech, Her Royal Highness emphasized: “It is a great pleasure to welcome you at the traditional Easter handcrafts Bazaar. You will have a chance to enjoy and purchase the wonderful works of these creative women. These vulnerable women faced some very hard times and have supported their families with their work. All proceeds gathered here at the Bazaar will go directly to these women and their families.“

The Bazaar will be open on Saturday and Sunday, from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation would like to thank Hotel Metropol Palace Belgrade for their help in organizing Humanitarian Easter bazaar.

[Владимир Петровић]

Rehabilitation of the rehabilitated – Crown Prince Alexander’ statement

Belgrade, April 14, 2014 - The position of HRH Crown Prince Alexander on today’s rehabilitation of HM Queen Maria is that it was already done in 2001 and confirmed in 2011, therefore it was not legally required to run a specific process of rehabilitation in 2013 and 2014.


The facts relating to the rehabilitation of the Royal Family members are the following:


1. By Decree of the Presidency of the Presidium of the National Assembly of FNRY from 1947, the Karadjordjevic family members, including HM Queen Maria, were stripped of their citizenship and their property was confiscated.


2. By the Act of 2001 on the abolition of the Decree on confiscation of the property and revoking of the citizenship from 1947, the Decree was declared null and void.


3. By the Act of 2011, Article 5, paragraph 5, legal rehabilitation was established for the Karadjordjevic Family who were striped of citizenship and dispossessed of property by the decree from 1947.


Thus, it was in 2001 that legal rehabilitation of Karadjordjevic family members was carried out, which was confirmed by the law of 2011.

[Владимир Петровић]

Prince Philip runs in London Marathon for Children with Cancer

London Tuesday 15 April, 2014. HRH Prince Philip ran the London Marathon supporting Children with Cancer. The London Marathon in addition to being one of the top five international marathons is run over the distance of 42.195 kilometres.

This year around 36,000 runners took part in the Marathon, many raising money for charitable causes. Several thousand spectators standing 10 to 15 people deep along the entire route, turned out to cheer on the competitors in warm weather.

[Владимир Петровић]

Easter receptions for children at the White Palace

Belgrade, 15 April 2014 – Their Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted today Traditional Easter receptions for over 1000 children without parental care, Roma children and children with disabilities. His Grace Vicar Bishop of Remeziana Andrej also attended the reception and greeted the children introducing them to the meaning and importance of Easter, as well as HE Mrs Julia Alice Patricia Feeney, Ambassador of Australia.



The St. John the Theologist children’s church choir from Sabac sang the Serbian National Anthem “Boze pravde” and traditional Easter songs. Following the reception children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in The White Palace Park.



The Humanitarian Foundation of HRH Crown Princess Katherine organized the traditional Easter receptions thanks to the support of socially responsible companies and individuals: Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, Delegation of EU Commission in Serbia, Delta Generali, EKO Serbia AD, Grand Casino Belgrade, Zitopromet AD, Mega Plast, Paracinka Paracin, SZR Tasi Tasi Belgrade, Stig d.o.o., As Kiss Jeans, Balon Centar, DINS, K&S, Fido kids, Astra socks, Ninia, Capitto Jeans, Cotex, Dastico d.o.o, Garman d.o.o, SZTR Kolibri Kragujevac, Mikro modeli d.o.o, Panon doo, Vrcin, Primanella doo Obrenovac, Sweet Choice doo, Zemun, Embassy of Australia, Embassy of Kuwait, Embassy of Azerbaijan, Embassy of Angola, Embassy of Finland, Embassy of Indonesia, Consulate of Sri Lanka, children from International schools, Lifeline Chicago Humanitarian Organization, St. George.



EKO Serbia AD - Hellenic Petroleum group is strategic partner of HRH Crown Princess Katherine Foundation.

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Princess Katherine at the IWC Easter egg auction

Belgrade 15 April 2014 – Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine attended the Easter egg humanitarian auction organized under the auspices of the IWC International Women Club in Serbia at the Residency of H.E. Mr. Masafumi Kuroki Ambassador of Japan.



Mrs Elizabeth Kuroki, wife of Ambasador of Japan hosted a Humanitarian Easter Egg Auction that gathered numerous exhibitors with the goal to gather funds in benefit of wide variety of socially aware actions and thus help the society.



Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine joined the humanitarian auction by donating a unique hand painted, filigrane decorated, chocolate egg courtesy of The Royal Warrant holder Chocolate company “Art Ival Premiere“.

[Владимир Петровић]

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II Easter Message

- 2014-

The great day of the Resurrection of Our Lord is upon us. The great day, that enlightened the world with joy and gave purpose to our existence. The day above all days and the feast above all feasts. I am joined by my wife Crown Princess Katherine, sons Hereditary Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander in wishing that this Holy Day remind us that we are all God’s children and that the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a call to find within ourselves what is good, for our sake and for the sake of general salvation.

We pray to the Lord to give us strength and wisdom to overcome all pain and trouble. We pray that we will work together for the benefit of Serbia and everyone in our country for present and future generations. We pray during these days for peace, recovery and progress.

Let Easter resurrect in us the noblest virtues that will make us endure as nation and as people. These are qualities of love for our neighbours, justice for every wrong, peace for the troubled, strength for the weak, help for the poor and needy, and unity to enable us to live and work together.

The resurrection of Jesus offers us a message of hope, love, and grace. Once again my wife and sons join me in extending our warmest wishes, and we do so in the very same spirit of Easter.

Christ is Risen!

Alexander II

[Владимир Петровић]

Profiles: Serbian Kings and Consorts

http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/former-...-consorts/

[Владимир Петровић]

[Владимир Петровић]

Crown Prince Alexander congratulates Maja Gojkovic on being elected President of the National Assembly of Serbia

Belgrade, April 23, 2014 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II sent a letter to Ms. Maja Gojkovic and congratulated her on being elected the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. In his letter the Crown Prince said:

“I congratulate you on your election as the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia. I am sure you will serve this high office in a conscientious and professional manner and that the House you represent will be an example of democratic dialogue. With the joint efforts of all participants in the parliamentary life it is possible to solve the problems which Serbia is facing and to make government more accountable and transparent”.

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Crown Prince Alexander II extends congratulations for Serbian Army Day

Belgrade, 23 April 2014 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II extended his congratulations to all members of Serbian Army on their Day today. Crown Prince Alexander emphasized in his letter:

“The Serbian Army has always been the pride to our country. Since the days of the First and Second Serbian Uprising, when first organized units of future Serbian Army were summoned until today, members of all its corps have been fulfilling their tasks professionally and fully contributed to building high esteem of our country. I wish all members of the Army of Serbia to continue to successfully fulfill their duties for the benefit of our country and all our citizens.”

[Владимир Петровић]

First Serb to Fly in Airplane - King Alexander I Karadjordjevic

During his visit to France on April 5-27, 1910, Prince Aleksandar Karadjordjević, at the time Crown Prince of Serbia and King of Yugoslavia, flew onboard a Flyer 1 aircraft for which the French government had bought the manufacture license from the Wright brothers. Thus Prince Aleksandar was, definitely confirmed as the first Serb to fly onboard an aircraft.
http://www.airserbia.com/en/home/main_me...vionu.html

[Владимир Петровић]

Why Is Monarchy The Best Form Of Government?

A monarchy in whatever form provides the stability to a country that democracy in many situations is unable to provide. In a monarchy the successor is bred from birth to fullfill his or her position rather than with an elected head of state who may have considerably less experience. In a republic (a country without a monarch) the head of state owes his power to the private interests that got him elected, and thus becomes indebted to them once he or she assumes power. In this way the president must satisfy those special interest groups first before he can act for what would be best for his or her country. In a monarchy however the monarch is king or queen simply because he or she was born into the role, and thus doesnt owe anyone or group for where he or she is, thus allowing the monarch to reign more freely and make decisions that are best for the country rather than the group of rich and powerful people that would have gotten him/her there as in a republic. Because the monarch reigns for life there becomes a greater amount of pressure on the monarch to rule as best as he/she can and so that things wont be messed up for the next generation. In a republic however the presidents term is often short, and whatever longterm problems or screw-ups that occured in one presidents term become carried over to the next man in office who may or may not deal with them, potentially creating a snowball effect of presidents defering difficult decisions to later presidents (such as the immense debt problem in the US). A monarchy is ultimately cost saving because the personal fortunes of the personal fortunes of the royal family can usually cover the costs that incur for the insititutions support. In the UK for example the monarchy is paid for by a tax (which is like one cent per person per year) for the monarchys upkeep. In turn however the private income from the Queens estates is turned over to the treasury which in total becomes a net gain for the national treasury (see the link about the civil list). In addition the amount of money gained from tourism brings added revenue for the state. In a republic the salary of the president is paid for by the state, and the private income of the president is kept by the president. After the president leaves office, his support is still born by the state in the form of pensions which are paid until his or her death. This can be very costly when combined with the dozens of other ex presidents living off of pensions from the state. Because a monarch is not apart of any one political party he or she is able to be above the factions of politics and make decisions based on his or her conciouns not based on what his or her party policy is. The monarch would also be able to mediate between the different levels of government should any emergency arise.

Monarchy is not necessarily backwards and republics are not necessarily better.

Some of the most stable and prosperous nations (Denmark Norway The Netherlands, Sweden the UK) are monarchies.

Republics are not more modern and monarchy is not old fashioned.
Anyone with the simplest knowledge of history knows that the ancient world had both monarchichal forms of government and republican ones.
http://unijamonarhistasrbije.wordpress.c...overnment/

[Владимир Петровић]

Crown Prince Alexander II at launching of the book “Returning to Russia” by Leonid Reshetnikov

Belgrade, 29 April 2014 – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II attended the launching of the book “Returning to Russia” by Leonid Reshetnikov, PhD, director of the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies. The event took place in Hotel Moscow in Belgrade today.

Beside the author, the book was also presented by His Eminence Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral, Mr Michail Degtjarov, deputy president of the Committee for science and technology of State Duma of Russian Federation, Dr Milo Lompar, professor of Faculty of Philology in Belgrade, and Mr Novica Jevtic, Director of Evro-Giunti, a publisher. His Grace Bishop Jovan of Lipljan addressed the gathering on behalf of His Holiness Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. Mr Dusan Babac, member of the Privy Council, and many other distinguished guests attended the promotion.