Romanians pay tribute to King Michael I
Romanians are paying tribute to King Michael I, a week before his funeral on December 16
Roxana Vasile, 08.12.2017, 13:09
Royal Hose loyalists, tourists and passers-by have stopped in front of the Royal Palace in Bucharest or of Elisabeta Palace, the Royal Familys residence in the capital city, to sign the books of condolences, light candles or lay flowers in memory of King Michael I, who died on Tuesday in Switzerland, aged 96. The Peles Castle in Sinaia, in the Southern Carpathians, the former summer residence of Romanias kings, has also become a focal point for those wishing to pay tribute to King Michael. His death prompted the biggest outpouring of grief seen in Romania in recent times, and the way simple people speak about him mirrors the deep admiration and respect that Romanians have for their king:
Speaker: “At personal level, I feel Ive lost the last connection with my grandparents, who fought alongside His Majesty. At historical level, the loss is huge. Ive always been impressed with his grace and elegance and with how clear he spoke Romanian after so many years of exile. “
Speaker: “May God rest his soul, and we hope that he will continue to watch over Romania and its people whom he loved so much.
Speaker: “We have come to light some candles for the King. He was a good man.
Speaker: “We thank him for everything that he did for Romania.
Special religious services are held in churches in Romania and Switzerland until Wednesday, December 13, when King Michaels body will be flown to Romania and placed in the Hall of Honour of the Peles Castle in Sinaia. On the evening of the same day, the coffin will be brought to Bucharest and placed in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace, to lie in state until the 15th of December.
The King will be buried on December 16 in Curtea de Arges, in the south, where all of Romania’s kings are interred, including his wife, Anna of Bourbon-Parma. Around 100 personalities from all over the world, including heads of state and government and members of royal families, are expected to attend the funeral. Princess Margareta, the eldest of King Michael’s five daughters and the Custodian of the Crown, vowed to carry on his fathers legacy.
Princess Margareta: “Throughout his long life, Romanias 4th king relied on faith, hope and patience. In every situation, he answered with justice and, when possible, with forgiveness. I am sure that in the future Romanians will continue to love the Crown, united in thought and action for the national good, as members of NATO and the EU.
On Monday, December 11, Parliament will convene in plenary sitting to pay homage to the former monarch. December 14, 15 and 16 will be days of national mourning. King Michael of Romania was the countrys longest living monarch, living 96 years of the countrys 151 years of monarchy.
He was credited with pre-emptively saving thousands of lives in World War II when, at 22, he had the courage to arrest the pro-Nazi leader, Marshal Ion Antonescu, a move that brought Romania on the side of the Allies. Historians say the monarchs action might have shortened the war in Europe by six months. King Michael was forced by the communists to abdicate and leave the country, and his exile lasted almost 50 years.
(translated by: Elena Enache)
