I wanted to tell him all about my grandfather, his Military life during WWII as a Royalist in Serbia,
his arrest by the communists and journey to the UK as a prisoner of war but the distance between
the waiting lounge and the plane was just too short. We managed to exchange pleasantries about
Kate and William’s wedding which he attended as a guest of Queen Elizabeth. Only when we
entered the plane and he sat down in his business class seat I realised I had missed another
chance again. The commotion on the flight was overwhelming when the whisper went around that
The King was on board.
his arrest by the communists and journey to the UK as a prisoner of war but the distance between
the waiting lounge and the plane was just too short. We managed to exchange pleasantries about
Kate and William’s wedding which he attended as a guest of Queen Elizabeth. Only when we
entered the plane and he sat down in his business class seat I realised I had missed another
chance again. The commotion on the flight was overwhelming when the whisper went around that
The King was on board.
Alexander II Karadjordjevic was born 1945 in London after the
Royal Family was expelled from Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He was
born in suite 212 at Claridges Hotel which Churchill famously
declared to be a temporary Yugoslavian territory in order for
the future King to be born in his own country. The newly-born
Crown Prince was baptized in Westminster Abbey with
Godparents King George VII and HRH Princess Elizabeth.
He wasn’t allowed to visit his Kingdom until 1990, only after the
country started disintegrating into small independent states. The
return of the King wasn’t smooth as he didn’t have any rights until
his Serbian passport was returned to him ten years later in 2001. Since then he has managed
to “rent” his own Royal Palace from the present government where he lives now.
Royal Family was expelled from Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He was
born in suite 212 at Claridges Hotel which Churchill famously
declared to be a temporary Yugoslavian territory in order for
the future King to be born in his own country. The newly-born
Crown Prince was baptized in Westminster Abbey with
Godparents King George VII and HRH Princess Elizabeth.
He wasn’t allowed to visit his Kingdom until 1990, only after the
country started disintegrating into small independent states. The
return of the King wasn’t smooth as he didn’t have any rights until
his Serbian passport was returned to him ten years later in 2001. Since then he has managed
to “rent” his own Royal Palace from the present government where he lives now.
My grandfather was born in the Kingdom of Serbia, Croat and Slovenes and he attended the Royal
Military Academy for four years between 1937 -1941. Upon graduation he was posted to a small place
south of Belgrade where he served as Commandant until 1943 when he was arrested by the partisans,
held prisoner until 1945 and then through the efforts of the Royal Family and the Red Cross transferred
to the UK.
Military Academy for four years between 1937 -1941. Upon graduation he was posted to a small place
south of Belgrade where he served as Commandant until 1943 when he was arrested by the partisans,
held prisoner until 1945 and then through the efforts of the Royal Family and the Red Cross transferred
to the UK.
In a similar fate to his King my grandfather wasn’t allowed to get
back to Yugoslavia until well after his retirement and he waited a
long time to get his documents too. After years of hardship he
managed to buy an estate in the village in Serbia where he was
posted after graduating from the Royal Military Academy just before
WWII broke out.
back to Yugoslavia until well after his retirement and he waited a
long time to get his documents too. After years of hardship he
managed to buy an estate in the village in Serbia where he was
posted after graduating from the Royal Military Academy just before
WWII broke out.
My upbringing, noted for numerous declarations to the SFRY (The
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and Tito, brotherhood and
unity, would be interrupted by long summer holidays spent with my grandfather and his recital of poems which never meant anything to me. They were too passionate
about King and Country, something we didn’t learn about at school, didn’t talk about and as such it
didn’t exist. Not until 1993, when during our Christmas on the 7th January I, the King and my
grandfather gathered at St Sava Church in London. King Alexandar II Karadjordjevic was present with
his family sitting on the right side of the Church where we all could see him. I was a new arrival from the
country which was decaying at the speed of light and my grandfather was there even though he died
decades ago. After the liturgy the anthem broke out strongly and the whole church seemed on fire.
Through the thick smouldering candlelight I could see my grandfather standing proudly and shouting the
anthem at the top of his voice. He would have called it singing.
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) and Tito, brotherhood and
unity, would be interrupted by long summer holidays spent with my grandfather and his recital of poems which never meant anything to me. They were too passionate
about King and Country, something we didn’t learn about at school, didn’t talk about and as such it
didn’t exist. Not until 1993, when during our Christmas on the 7th January I, the King and my
grandfather gathered at St Sava Church in London. King Alexandar II Karadjordjevic was present with
his family sitting on the right side of the Church where we all could see him. I was a new arrival from the
country which was decaying at the speed of light and my grandfather was there even though he died
decades ago. After the liturgy the anthem broke out strongly and the whole church seemed on fire.
Through the thick smouldering candlelight I could see my grandfather standing proudly and shouting the
anthem at the top of his voice. He would have called it singing.
After the service I aimlessly searched around the church for some comfort, looking for anything which
could bring me a part of the country which I was missing badly. In one of the corners, almost hidden,
was a glass bookshelf and it looked left, forgotten and in need of dusting. Uncertain, making sure no
one was watching I opened the glass window and took a small book printed on rough paper which
smelled very rustic. The book opened itself somewhere in the middle and I began to read. It was
collection of the poems which I recognised not from my school days but from my grandfather and the
summer holidays we spent together. The coincidence was great. Puzzled I went to the priest with so
many questions.
could bring me a part of the country which I was missing badly. In one of the corners, almost hidden,
was a glass bookshelf and it looked left, forgotten and in need of dusting. Uncertain, making sure no
one was watching I opened the glass window and took a small book printed on rough paper which
smelled very rustic. The book opened itself somewhere in the middle and I began to read. It was
collection of the poems which I recognised not from my school days but from my grandfather and the
summer holidays we spent together. The coincidence was great. Puzzled I went to the priest with so
many questions.
“Darling, the book is a collection of poems the prisoners of war recited during their journey from Serbia
to the UK after WWII. As you know after WWII finished a lot of Royalist were imprisoned by partisans
and thanks to the Royal Family and their connections the prisoners were transferred by ships firstly to
Italy and then to the UK and some onwards to the USA. The crossing was very long, dark and there
was not much food around so the prisoners recited poems to each other to forget about the state of
affairs they were in. In order to remember them we published the book. ”
to the UK after WWII. As you know after WWII finished a lot of Royalist were imprisoned by partisans
and thanks to the Royal Family and their connections the prisoners were transferred by ships firstly to
Italy and then to the UK and some onwards to the USA. The crossing was very long, dark and there
was not much food around so the prisoners recited poems to each other to forget about the state of
affairs they were in. In order to remember them we published the book. ”
I bought three. And I learned every single poem from it. Next time, I am going to recite them to my King,
Alexander II Kardjordjevic.
Alexander II Kardjordjevic.
www.ReadyClickAndGo.com can organise a private day visit to the Royal Palace complex in Belgrade,
Serbia with a fully licensed English speaking history guide. For more information please email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com
Serbia with a fully licensed English speaking history guide. For more information please email Tara@ReadyClickAndGo.com
There is a good possibility that you may even meet the King!
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