Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine, accompanied by Mr. Vladan Zivulovic, member of the Crown Council, attended today marking of 79th anniversary of assassination of HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia at the Royal Mausoleum in St. George Church in Oplenac. His Grace Bishop Jovan of Sumadija officiated the Holy Liturgy and the Requiem together with His Eminence Metropolitan Basil of Arcadia and His Grace Bishop Demetrios of Safita of Patriarchate of Antioch.
After the church service, wreaths were laid on King’s tomb by Their Royal Highnesses, representatives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Policy, Army of Serbia, Municipality of Topola, HM King Peter I Foundation, numerous associations and citizens who have gathered to pay their respect to the beloved King.
HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was treacherously assassinated during the official state visit to France on 9 October 1934 in Marseille, along with the French Foreign Minister Monsieur Louis Barthou. HRH Crown Prince Alexander II is a grandson of HM King Alexander I the Unifier.
HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia was the second son of HM King Peter I and Princess Zorka, who was born in Cetinje Montenegro 16 December 1888. His Godfather was the Russian Tsar Alexander II. Young Prince Alexander spent his childhood in Montenegro and was educated in Geneva Switzerland. He continued his schooling at the Military School in St. Petersburg Russia and then in Belgrade. After the death of HM King Peter I he ascended the throne of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
This act completed the dream of his father and grandfather – to unify Southern Slavs in one nation. When King Peter I died on 16 August 1921, the Regent HRH Crown Prince Alexander became the King of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In 1922, he married HRH Princess Maria of Romania. They had three sons – Crown Prince Peter, Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej.
After the State funeral held on 26 May 2013, HM King Peter II, HM Queen Alexandra, HM Queen Maria and HRH Prince Andrej are buried at their final resting place beside HM King Alexander I and HM King Peter I at the Royal Mausoleum in Oplenac.