The Royal family of Serbia once again opened the doors of their home to be part of the manifestation Days of the European Heritage, an event which has been held regularly in Belgrade since 2002 as part of the wider European initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, and this year’s theme is Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine. TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine personally greeted part of the visitors, when their other obligations allowed them to do so.
“With great pleasure, I once again welcomed the opportunity for my family’s home, the Royal Palace, to once again take part in the celebration of European Heritage Days. The Royal Complex is an important part of Serbia’s cultural and historical heritage, and I am especially pleased that so many people took the opportunity to visit it. It is my sincere wish that visitors from Serbia and from abroad can learn more about the history of the Royal Family, the Royal Palace and our country through such occasions.
This year’s theme, ‘Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine’, is a particularly important reminder that our cultural treasures must be preserved for future generations, and the Royal Complex, as an important part of Serbia’s national heritage, must be protected and safeguarded from anything that could threaten the future of such historical site, one that is nearly a century old.
Opening the gates of the Royal Complex to the public was one of the first decisions I made following our return to Serbia in 2001. After decades during which this beautiful place was effectively a ‘forbidden city’, accessible only to a limited number of people, I felt strongly that it should be accessible by visitors and that everyone should have the opportunity to experience its history and heritage.
I hope that everyone who visited the Royal Complex during this year’s European Heritage Days enjoyed the tours and the opportunity to experience, first-hand, an important part of Serbia’s history. Our country possesses a remarkable cultural heritage and many places of which we can rightly be proud. I am certain that this year’s European Heritage Days provided a wonderful opportunity to discover, appreciate and celebrate that heritage, and to remind ourselves of the richness that Serbia has to offer,” said HRH Crown Prince Alexander.
