His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander II extends Christmas and New Year’s greetings to the citizens of Serbia who celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.

Dear Citizens of Serbia,

The year 2013 was especially memorable for my family and me. After over 50 years we paid our last respects and bid farewell to Their Majesties King Peter II, Queen Alexandra, Queen Maria and His Royal Highness Prince Andrej. The Karadjordjevics’, whose destiny throughout history has been closely tied to the destiny of the entire nation, as well as to the establishment of the modern Serbian State. Their lives are the reflection of what happened to their people and their homeland. Their wanderings and their exile lasted for too long. They lived and died in different parts of the world, but we lived to see them find their peace among their family and among their Serbs. For me, as the Head of the Royal Family and for my whole family this was a day to remember!

2013 was a very difficult year for Serbia, a year of economic difficulties but also one of hope. Thanks to the hard negotiations of our Government, Serbia finally got the date to start negotiations with the European Union, which will surely be our focus in 2014.

Serbia and the City of Nis were hosts of the great celebration marking 1700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, which changed the course of the history and the Christian faith.

I am extremely proud of our athletes that made several world-class results in the previous year, like our National Women’s Handball team, National junior rowers team that made great results at the European Championships, great results of Serbian athletes at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, then our National Davis Cup team that won silver medal in Belgrade and of course to our great Ambassador Novak Djokovic, who was proclaimed as a Tennis Player of the year 2013 by ITF. Even in these difficult times, all these accomplishments confirm that Serbia is a country of many talents and great potential!

During this time of peace when we are all inspired and advised to focus our care and compassion to our beloved ones and our fellow citizens, we should all remember that the God sent his son to serve, not to be served!

My family joins me in wishing all citizens of Serbia a good and prosperous New Year for 2014.

Merry Christmas!

Christ is born!

Alexander