Further Developments in Royal Serbian Renunciation: A Possible Daughter and the Support of Prince Vladimir

Two days after Prince Peter of Serbia's renunciation of his rights of succession to the Royal House, which took place on 27 April, were publicly announced on 28 April, the Serbian tabloid Kurir ran a story on 29 April that alleged the prince has an out-of-wedlock daughter. The tabloid paper wrote:

 

Officially, Petar is not married and has no children, but as Kurir has discovered, he has a daughter, who lives in London. Petar lives between London and Seville, where his mother Princess Maria de Gloria resides, and where he signed this act on the transfer of inheritance rights to his brother Philip, who himself lives in Belgrade with his wife Danica and son Stefan. 7-8 years ago, Petar had a daughter from a relationship with a woman in London. He recognised the child, sees her, and fulfills all his legal obligations in terms of alimony, states Kurir's source. 

 

Source: EKSKLUZIVNO! KURIR OTKRIVA: Princ Petar Karađorđević ima vanbračnu ćerku, EVO GDE ŽIVI sa majkom! MUK NA SRPSKOM DVORU

The birth of a Dolores Luna Karageorgevitch was registered in 2017 in West Sussex, United Kingdom. Dolores is the name of Prince Peter's maternal great-aunt, Princess Dolores of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, an older sister of his maternal grandmother Princess Esperanza of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Luna is the name of Prince Peter's younger half-sister Doña Luna de Medina y Orleans-Braganza, 17th Countess of Ricla. Official confirmation from the Royal Family of Serbia has not yet been given to this story.

In his renunciation, Peter of Serbia gave up not only his dynastic rights, but also those of any children he may have in the future, whether in marriage or out of wedlock.

On 1 May, Prince Vladimir of Serbia, the eldest son of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia and his second wife Princess Kira zu Leiningen, issued a statement supporting the decision of his first cousin-once-removed:

We, the members of the Kraljevic Andrej branch of the Karadjordjevic family, fully and wholeheartedly support the decision taken by the eldest son of Prince Alexander, HRH Prince Petar, to officially and legally revoke and renounce his collective God given rights of primogeniture and, in so doing, hand his rights of succession and ascendancy to any future throne to his brother, HRH Prince Filip.

As we thank His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije for his blessing of this solemn occasion, we also congratulate all members of the King Petar II branch and very much look forward to working together with Prince Filip for the betterment of the Serbian nation and her peoples under the banner of Karadjordjevic family.

Vladimir, 01.05.2022.

Source: Announcement on the decision of HRH Prince Peter to transfer the right of inheritance to HRH Prince Philip

Dynastic Legal Issues Regarding Recent Serbian Renunciation

On Saturday, 30 April, the press office of the Royal Palace in Belgrade released a statement from Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia regarding the renunciation of his eldest son, Prince Peter:

Concerning the withdrawal of my oldest son Prince Peter from the line of succession, I wish him all the best for the future, good health, and happiness. I appreciate his honesty regarding the tough decision he made. This issue was brought to me quickly, while I am abroad, due to previous obligations. Unfortunately, such a crucial and important procedure was not followed properly, in accordance with the tradition and rules of the Royal Family, and the Family Rulebook, which was written in the time of the Kingdom, and which all members of the Royal Family need to follow. This occurrence and procedure did not take place at the Royal Palace, in Serbia, with my presence and authority as the Head of the Royal Family, with the blessing of our Holy Church and with Crown Council participation in the process, but in a foreign country, without a good reason for performing such important matter away from our homeland. The Royal Family of Serbia will continue to serve the people with dedication, honesty, and loyalty, which is the obligation and duty for us.

As previously reported on Thursday, 28 April, Hereditary Prince Peter of Serbia renounced his rights of succession in a ceremony in Seville on 27 April. If enacted, this would make his brother Prince Philip the new heir to Crown Prince Alexander. On Saturday, Prince Philip and his wife Princess Danica visited Oplenac, the mausoleum of the Serbian royal family, where they paid tribute to the prince's ancestors. 

According to the Family Book of Rules of 5 April 1930, which govern the Royal House of Karađorđević and its members, there are several technical problems with Prince Peter's renunciation. Article 3 states: "The Ruling King is the head and protector of all the members of The Royal House. The King determines the rank of all the members of The Royal House." Furthermore, Article 5 reads: "Without the special approval and consent of the King no member of The Royal House is allowed to commit any act or deed of the public importance, nor to make any permanent commitments to anyone. The King takes care, by all means, that with no exception The Royal House is always governed by the rules and considerations of honour, order and exemplary behaviour, worthy of the Royal House." When reading this dynastic text, it is worth noting that when there is a reference to the King, then the current holder of that position is the Head of the Royal House, i.e. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, as he would be monarch if Serbia was currently a monarchy.

The statement of the Crown Prince does not directly address whether or not the renunciation of Prince Peter has been accepted in its current form. The first portion of the communiqué seems to hint that the renunciation has possibly been accepted by the Head of House, while the second portion goes on to point out the issues with the renunciation which could render it invalid, as noted above. With time, more clarity will likely be given on the situation. 

Dynastic Legal Issues Regarding Recent Serbian Renunciation

On Saturday, 30 April, the press office of the Royal Palace in Belgrade released a statement from Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia regarding the renunciation of his eldest son, Prince Peter:

Concerning the withdrawal of my oldest son Prince Peter from the line of succession, I wish him all the best for the future, good health, and happiness. I appreciate his honesty regarding the tough decision he made.

This issue was brought to me quickly, while I am abroad, due to previous obligations. Unfortunately, such a crucial and important procedure was not followed properly, in accordance with the tradition and rules of the Royal Family, and the Family Rulebook, which was written in the time of the Kingdom, and which all members of the Royal Family need to follow. This occurrence and procedure did not take place at the Royal Palace, in Serbia, with my presence and authority as the Head of the Royal Family, with the blessing of our Holy Church and with Crown Council participation in the process, but in a foreign country, without a good reason for performing such important matter away from our homeland.

The Royal Family of Serbia will continue to serve the people with dedication, honesty, and loyalty, which is the obligation and duty for us.

As previously reported on Thursday, 28 April, Hereditary Prince Peter of Serbia renounced his rights of succession in a ceremony in Seville on 27 April. If enacted, this would make his brother Prince Philip the new heir to Crown Prince Alexander. On Saturday, Prince Philip and his wife Princess Danica visited Oplenac, the mausoleum of the Serbian royal family, where they paid tribute to the prince's ancestors. 

According to the Family Book of Rules of 5 April 1930, which govern the Royal House of Karađorđević and its members, there are several technical problems with Prince Peter's renunciation. Article 3 states: "The Ruling King is the head and protector of all the members of The Royal House. The King determines the rank of all the members of The Royal House." Furthermore, Article 5 reads: "Without the special approval and consent of the King no member of The Royal House is allowed to commit any act or deed of the public importance, nor to make any permanent commitments to anyone. The King takes care, by all means, that with no exception The Royal House is always governed by the rules and considerations of honour, order and exemplary behaviour, worthy of the Royal House." When reading this dynastic text, it is worth noting that when there is a reference to the King, then the current holder of that position is the Head of the Royal House, i.e. Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, as he would be monarch if Serbia was currently a monarchy.

The statement of the Crown Prince does not directly address whether or not the renunciation of Prince Peter has been accepted in its current form. The first portion of the communiqué seems to hint that the renunciation has possibly been accepted by the Head of House, while the second portion goes on to point out the issues with the renunciation which could render it invalid, as noted above. With time, more clarity will likely be given on the situation. 

The 85th Birthday of the Duke de Sabran

The duke and duchess de Sabran.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Bertrand Rindoff Petroff.

 

Today, the 8th Duc de Sabran celebrates his eighty-fifth birthday!

 

Born on 30 April 1937 at Villecresnes, Charles Élzéar Marie Joseph Adrien de Sabran-Pontevès was the first child of Foulques, 7th Duc de Sabran (1908-1973) and Roselyne Manca-Amat de Vallambrosa (1910-1988). Roselyne, duchesse de Sabran, was a close friend of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco. Élzéar had four younger siblings: Jean Henri (1939-2017; married Marie Isabelle Decazes de Glücksbierg), Géraud (1940-1941), Gersende (b.1942; married Prince Jacques, Duc d'Orléans), and Vicomte Géraud de Sabran (b.1943; married Stéphanette Fabre). Élzéar became the 8th duc de Sabran following the death of his father in 1973. Élzéar found his career in business and is the owner of the Château d'Ansouis.

Élzéar and Dewi Sukarno with her daughter Kartika, December 1977.
Photo (c) Reginald Davis of The Australian Women's Weekly.

In December 1977, Élzéar de Sabran-Pontevès alluded to his upcoming engagement to Naoko Nemoto (b.1940; aka Ratna Sari Dewi Sukarno), one of the wives and subsequent widows of Sukarno, the first President of Indonesia. The French duke and the widow of the Indonesian leader had been seeing one another since 1975. Élzéar was forty years-old and described as being "very good looking and rather shy" as well as having "the figure of an athlete and a young man's exuberance." It was stated that the couple would officially announce their betrothal early in 1978. Élzéar, by then Duc de Sabran, commented: "It has been impossible for Dewi and me to get any time together. We simply never get away from people. That is why we are leaving Paris and taking a holiday visiting Japan and the places Dewi knows and loves. It will be nice for me to see these places. Dewi knows my world well - and apparently likes it. Now I must know hers. It will be a quiet visit. I am fascinated by the Orient, and I want to see as much as I can on this holiday. I am not a member of the jet set. I do not travel a lot. When I travel, I would rather see a lot of the country and learn something of its culture." The duke shared that he and Madame Sukarno shared a passion for historical preservation, particularly of the Château d'Ansouis. "I take care of the outside, and Dewi has been in charge of the restoration of the first and second floors. We love d'Ansouis. It is part of my life and something to return to. There is nothing new, nothing brash at d'Ansouis. Nothing we have not lived with for generations." For reasons unknown, the Duc de Sabran and Madame Dewi Sukarno never married. 

The duke and duchess de Sabran, 2001.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Bertrand Rindoff Petroff.

In 1997, the Duc de Sabran married Dubravka "Douchka" Cizmek (b.1946) at Versailles. The couple were religiously married at the Château d'Ansouis in 1999. Élzéar and Dubravka, Duke and Duchess de Sabran, welcomed the arrival of their only child, a daughter Delphine, in 2001.

 

 

Our best wishes to the Duke on his birthday!

Prince Peter of Serbia Renounces Succession Rights

Hereditary Prince Philip and his older brother Prince Peter during the renunciation.

 

On 27 April at Casa Pilatos in Seville, Prince Peter of Serbia renounced his right of succession to the Headship of the Royal House. Among others, Peter’s act of renunciation was witnessed by his mother the Duchess of Segorbe, his stepfather the Duke of Segorbe, his brother Prince Philip and his sister-in-law Princess Danica. Prince Peter has given up his dynastic rights as well as those of any children he may have in future. Philip and Danica, who live in Belgrade, are the new Hereditary Prince and Princess of Serbia.

Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza on their wedding day.
Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia can be seen to the far right of the photograph.

The Royal Wedding of the Karageorgevich and Orléans-Braganza.
(left to right): Prince Juan Carlos of Spain, the Count of Paris, Princess Sofía of Spain with her children (Infante Felipe, Infanta Cristina, and Infanta Elena), the Countess of Barcelona, Princess Maria da Glória, Prince Alexander, Princess Anne, King Constantine of Greece (with his children Crown Prince Pavlos and Princess Alexia in the front), Infante Alfonso of Spain, and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.

The newlyweds: Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Maria da Glória of Serbia.

The Chicago Tribune of 6 February 1980 heralds Prince Peter's arrival.

On 5 February 1980, the prince was born at Chicago, Illinois, as the first child of Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia (b.1945) and Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza (b.1946). Alexander and Maria da Glória had married in 1972. Their infant son's name paid tribute to both the father and mother's fathers: King Peter II of Yugoslavia (1923 - 1970) and Prince Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza (1913 - 2007). At his christening, Prince Peter received his cousin Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia (1924 - 2016), the only surviving son of Prince Regent Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga (née Greece and Denmark), as his godfather.

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Peter was followed by two younger brothers: the fraternal twin princes Philip and Alexander (b.1982). In 1985, the marriage of Crown Prince Alexander and Princess Maria da Glória ended in divorce. By the end of 1985, Peter and his brothers had gained a new stepmother and stepfather. In September 1985, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia married Katherine Clairy Batis (b.1945) at the Orthodox Church in London. In October 1985, Princess Maria da Glória married don Ignacio de Medina y Fernández de Córdoba, 19th Duke of Segorbe (b.1947). Peter gained two sisters from his mother's second marriage: Sol (b.1986) and Luna (b.1988).

 Prince Peter of Serbia

Prince Peter graduated from The King’s School Canterbury in England. There the prince obtained three A levels in Art, French and Spanish. Peter then completed an art foundation course at the Camberwell College of Arts in London. The hereditary prince then pursued studies in graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design. It is in this field that Prince Peter currently works as a graphic design professional.

 

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Prince Peter of Serbia lives in Spain. Although all three reside in different countries, Peter is very close to his brothers Philip and Alexander.

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Karađorđević Renunciation: Prince Mihailo Expresses Support for New Heir

Prince Mihailo and Hereditary Prince Philip with their families.

On his Instagram, Prince Mihailo of Serbia, a son of Prince Tomislav and a grandson of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, has issued a statement showing his support for his first cousins once removed, the former Hereditary Prince Peter and the new Hereditary Prince Philip :

I fully support the decision of my cousin Peter to transfer his duties, rights and obligations to Filip. I deeply believe that Filip will give an exceptional contribution to our country, our people and our society with his life in Serbia and his efforts. Over the past years, I have had the opportunity to be convinced of Filip's sincere intentions and true concern for the progress of our people, in Serbia and abroad. Ljubica and I will continue, as before, to give our support to Filip and Danica in order to work together for the common good and progress.

 

Orthodox Christian Royals Celebrate the Resurrection of Christ

 

On Sunday, members of the Orthodox Christian royal families of Europe celebrated Pascha. 

 

Crown Princess Elia of Albania with her father and brother.

 

King Simeon II of Bulgaria.

 

Prince Philip and Princess Danica with their son Prince Stefan.

 

Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia.

 

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and his wife Princess Victoria.