Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine together with His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac attended today in Prnjavor a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the assassination of HM King Alexander I, grandfather of Crown Prince Alexander. King Alexander I and French Foreign Minister Monsieur Louis Barthou were killed in Marseilles on 9 October 1934, during a state visit to France.
Entering Prnjavor, Crown Prince Alexander II, Crown Princess Katherine and Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac were first welcomed by three horsemen wearing old Serbian army uniforms and carrying the flags of Serbia, City of Sabac and the Royal banner, and then, in front of St. Ilija Church, by Mr. Nebojsa Zelenovic, the Mayor of Sabac, and many citizens of Macva region. His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac officiated a memorial service for King Alexander, and after that Crown Prince Alexander II laid a wreath at the monument of his grandfather, King Alexander I and Archibald Reiss, friend of the Serbian people, as well as at the memorial tomb of the Serbian heroes from the First World War.
HRH Crown Prince Alexander II emphasized in his address: “It is a great pleasure for my wife and me to be here today with you, in front of the memorial chapel dedicated to the victims and heroes of the First World War. This monument was erected during the reign of my grandfather, King Alexander, whose eightieth anniversary of death we are commemorating today. My father, King Peter II, here paid tribute to the spirits of the brave Mačvani who participated in the first Allied victories in the Great War. In two days, my wife and I are traveling to Marseilles, in France, to lay a wreath at the very site of the assassination of my grandfather, King Alexander. I will be very happy to convey a message out there that the memory of him is proudly cherished in Serbia. Serbia has a lot to learn from its past, looking to the future, seeking a better life for all of its citizens. That is Serbia in which I believe!”
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine delivered parcels with humanitarian aid for 30 families from Prnjavor that the priests will pass on to the most vulnerable citizens. The aid consists of food, personal hygiene kits, disinfectants and bed sheets. The Royal Couple then went on accompanied by His Grace Bishop Lavrentije of Sabac and Mayor of Sabac Mr. Nebojsa Zelenovic to visit Primary school King Alexander I that was opened by HRH Crown Prince Alexander II in 2002.
After that, the Royal Couple, Bishop Lavrentije and Mayor Zelenovic visited Monastery of Cokesina, and spent pleasant time in talking with prioress and nuns.
