The 56th anniversary of HM King Peter II’s death was marked today in the Mausoleum of the Royal Family, Saint George’s Church in Oplenac. As HRH Crown Prince Alexander, due to unavoidable obligations, could not attend the ceremony, he was represented by Mr Predrag Markovic, member of the Crown Council.

The Holy Liturgy and memorial service were officiated by the priests from Oplenac parish. This year, for the second time, an official state ceremony of marking the death of King Peter II was held after the church service; the national anthem was played, and members of the army guarded the tomb of the last Head of State of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Supreme Commander of the only legitimate army during World War 2 – Royal Yugoslav Army in Homeland. Mr Predrag Markovic, as the envoy of the Head of the Royal family, laid a wreath on the King’s tomb.

HRH Crown Prince Alexander stated: “On this day 56 years ago, the heart of my dear father, His Majesty King Peter II, stopped beating. His life was not easy at all – marked by the early loss of his father and the turbulent historical events that shook the world at the time he ascended to the throne. The storms of the world carried the young King, shattering his efforts to serve the people as their monarch.

My father was left without a Crown by the decision of an undemocratic regime, but what that crown represented — honour, duty and love for the people — could never be taken away from him. That is why, before, during and after the great ordeal of World War II, he did everything he could to serve his people and Homeland.

At the beginning of the war, he was forced, like many rulers of countries under Nazi occupation, to evacuate to London. After the war, the communist authorities did not allow him to return to his country, which he carried in his heart and longed for until his last day.

His life was filled with difficulties, but may his legacy and memory remain pure and dignified. May we always remember who he truly was — a beloved son of his parents, a man of sincere love for his people and country, and a monarch whom his people looked upon as their own son. The last king of Yugoslavia — my beloved father, Peter II.”

Аs part of the state ceremony of paying respect to the late King, wreaths were laid on his tomb by: the Royal family, Mr Zoran Antic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs of the Government of Serbia, representatives of the Army of Serbia, Municipality of Topola, Mr Dragan Reljic, Director of the Foundation of King Peter I in Oplenac, as well as associations and people who gathered to pay their respects to the last King of Yugoslavia.

Biography of HM King Peter II

HM King Peter II of Yugoslavia was the firstborn son of King Alexander I and Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. King Peter II was born in Belgrade on 6 September 1923, and his Godfather was King George V of England. After his father’s assassination in 1934, he became the King of Yugoslavia, but since he was only 11 years old, a regency of three was formed.

After the 27th of March Coup, when the people of Yugoslavia rejected the treaty which the Government signed with Nazi Germany, King Peter II was proclaimed of age. The Yugoslav Army was unprepared to resist the ensuing invasion by Nazi Germany, and Yugoslavia was occupied within eleven days. King Peter II was forced to leave the country, and he joined other monarchs and leaders of German-occupied Europe in London in June 1941. There, King Peter was regarded by the people of Yugoslavia as the symbol of resistance against Nazism and worked hard on getting the Allies’ support for the fight of the people of Yugoslavia against the occupying forces.

After the war, the nondemocratic communist regime forbade the return of the Royal family to Yugoslavia, removed their citizenship, and confiscated their entire private property. King Peter II never abdicated.

The King spent the last years of his life in America. He died on 3 November 1970 in Denver Hospital, Colorado, and he was buried at the St. Sava Monastery Church in Libertyville, Illinois. He was the only king buried in the United States.

The King’s remains were transferred to the Royal Palace Chapel in Belgrade on 22 January 2013, and a State Funeral took place on 26 May 2013 at the Royal Family Mausoleum of St. George in Oplenac, Serbia, where His Majesty joined other members of The Royal Family interned in the Royal Mausoleum.