Her Majesty Queen Maria of Yugoslavia was the daughter of HM King Ferdinand of Romania and HM Queen Marie of Romania (daughter of HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, a son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom). Queen Maria was born in Gotha, Thuringia, Germany, on 9 January 1900, and died in London, the United Kingdom, on 22 June 1961.
She was named after her maternal grandmother, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, and was known as Mignon in the family to distinguish her from her mother. In 1914, after the death of HM King Carol I, her parents became the King and Queen of Romania, and Princess Maria moved with them to Romania, which became her new home country.
During World War I, she worked as a nurse with her mother, along with her two sisters.
On 8 June 1922, in Belgrade, Her Majesty married HM King Alexander I of Yugoslavia. Their marriage represented not only a personal union but also a strong dynastic alliance between the Royal Houses of Karađorđević and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. The Royal Couple had three sons: HRH Crown Prince Peter (later HM King Peter II of Yugoslavia, father of HRH Crown Prince Alexander II), HRH Prince Tomislav, and HRH Prince Andrej.
Upon her arrival in Yugoslavia, Queen Maria quickly became deeply loved by the people, known for her simplicity, warmth, and dedication. She actively participated in public life and was particularly committed to advancing social welfare, education, culture, and overall humanitarian work.
Her Majesty founded and supported hospitals, schools, homes for children, student dormitories, and charitable institutions across the Kingdom. Very soon after the wedding, together with her husband, she formed a charitable organisation called “The King’s Fund” with the goal of supporting poor students. She was a strong advocate for women’s education and empowerment, encouraging the development of women’s associations and initiatives that improved the social status of women. She was also a patron of the arts and culture, supporting Serbian artists, writers, and cultural societies, and helped preserve national traditions while encouraging modern education. Among others, she was also a patron of the “Circle of the Serbian Sisters”, a patriotic and charitable organisation, as well as the Red Cross of Yugoslavia.
Deeply engaged in humanitarian activities, Queen Maria worked to provide assistance to orphans, the poor, and war veterans. She personally visited hospitals, schools, and institutions, offering comfort and encouragement. Her life of simplicity — often seen driving her own car (she was the first woman in Yugoslavia to drive, often seen driving her husband, HM King Aleander I), gardening, or working in the field dressed in traditional folk costume — reinforced her image as a down-to-earth, compassionate Queen who lived close to her people. Her Majesty was well educated, she spoke several languages fluently and enjoyed painting and sculpting.
After the tragic assassination of her husband, HM King Alexander I, in Marseille on 9 October 1934, Queen Maria continued to care for her sons and became known as the Queen Mother, a title that was accepted by the entire nation. Despite her personal grief, she remained a devoted mother to her three young sons and a moral support to the nation, continuing her dedication to humanitarian efforts as well.
During the Second World War, although forced into exile together with all other members of the Royal family of Serbia, Queen Maria remained deeply connected to the suffering of the Yugoslav people. She worked actively with the Red Cross and other organisations, sending humanitarian aid to Yugoslavs and our prisoners of war in German camps. In order for her identity not to be revealed by the occupiers, she used the pseudonym “Maria K. Djordjević” when signing aid packages.
Following the war, although King Peter II never abdicated, the monarchy was abolished by an illegal act of the communist dictatorship on 29 November 1945. The Royal family was forced to live in exile, and on 8 March 1947, by an unlawful Decree of the Presidency of the Federative People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, the entire Royal family was deprived of their citizenship, and their entire private property was confiscated by the communists, including the Queen Mother.
Queen Maria lived a modest and private life on her estate in Kent, England. Though far from her homeland, she remained dedicated to charitable activities and continued to embody the dignity of her royal role. She even managed to provide the Serbian Orthodox community in London with an appropriate temple – the Church of Saint Sava in London, as the main and largest Serbian Orthodox church in Great Britain, was bought from the Anglican church thanks to the help of Queen Maria.
In recognition of her humanitarian service and moral authority, General Charles de Gaulle, President of France, decorated her with the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour in 1959. In addition to tis decoration, Her Majesty received numerous high national and foreign honours in recognition of her public and humanitarian service, including: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Karađorđe’s Star and the Order of the Yugoslav Crown (Kingdom of Yugoslavia); Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Carol I and the Order of the Crown (Romania); Grand Cross of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia, 4 April 1937); Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Alexander (Bulgaria, Grand Cross in Diamonds, 1934).
Her Majesty Queen Maria passed away in London on 22 June 1961. She was initially buried at the Royal Cemetery at Frogmore, Windsor. Thanks to the efforts of her grandson, HRH Crown Prince Alexander, who fulfilled the vow of his father and great-grandfather, King Peter II and King Peter I, her remains were exhumed with the utmost honours and transferred to the Palace Chapel of St. Andrew the First-Called in Belgrade on 29 April 2013. The last farewell with a solemn church service in the United Kingdom, before the final return to the Homeland, was organised in the church of Saint Sava in London, the one she gave to our people. On 26 May 2013, she was laid to rest at the Royal Mausoleum of Oplenac, Topola, during a solemn State Funeral, alongside her husband, HM King Alexander I, and other members of the Royal Family, to rest in peace in her country, among the people who loved her dearly.
Her Majesty Queen Maria is remembered as one of the most beloved members of the Karađorđević Royal Family. Admired for her humility, generosity, and tireless service, she embodied the virtues of duty, compassion, and moral strength. Her deep commitment to humanitarian work, cultural and educational progress, and her closeness to the people secured her a lasting place in the hearts of generations of Serbs and Yugoslavs.