Daily Mail UK
April 28, 2013
Queen Maria was exiled in 1941 after Yugoslavia was invaded [by the Nazis]
Lived in England until her death in 1961 and was buried at Windsor
Queen Elizabeth permitted body to be exhumed and transported to Serbia
She was the great granddaughter of Queen Victoria
Serbia is undergoing a seven year long project to repatriate past members of its royal family
Queen Maria of Yugoslavia has been exhumed
and will be sent to her home after 70 years of exile
The monarch, who is second cousin once removed of both Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, will return to Serbia after being exhumed from the Royal burial ground at Frogmore, Windsor.
Queen Maria’s husband King Alexander I was assassinated by a Bulgarian terrorist in 1934 as he drove through Marseilles, France.
The couple’s 11-year-old son, King Peter II, inherited the throne, but the family forced to leave in 1941 after Yugoslavia was invaded.
[Aleksandra's Note: Peter did not become "King" until March 1941 due to his young age at the time of his father's death.]
She lived in Britain until her death in 1961, but the Communist leader who ruled the country from 1945, Marshal Josip Tito, refused to allow her body to be returned.
The Sunday Telegraph reported that with permission from Queen Elizabeth II, the Serbian royal family has arranged for Queen Maria’s remains to return to her home country.
A spokesman said: ‘This is very emotional for us. This is a huge moment for modern Serbia.’
Her body was exhumed on Friday [April 26, 2013]and relocated to a Serbian orthodox church in London the next day.
A Holy Liturgy and Memorial Service for Queen Maria was officiated at the Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava in London today in front of living members of the Serbian royal family.
Her grandson, the Crown Prince Alexander, will fly to Belgrade with her body following the memorial service today.
Her last resting place will be the royal mausoleum in Topola, 80 miles from the capital.
The Serbian royal family spokesman added: ‘She was the first woman to drive a car in that part of Europe. She spoke five languages, she was very stylish, she was a great painter and a philanthropist.
‘She was loved by so many.’
Queen Maria was born into the Romanian royal family, and was a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She spent the remainder of her life in a cottage in England.
The modern Serbian royal family have been allowed back into the country and have been working for seven years to repatriate the bodies of past relatives.
Her son [King Peter II] was repatriated from the US in January, and his wife, Queen Alexandra, will be returned from Athens in May.
Serbia will hold a state funeral on May 26 [2013].
The monarch's wedding to her husband King Alexander I of Yugoslavia,who was assassinated in 1934
Queen Maria was known as a very modern woman,
driving cars and becoming a noted philanthropist
Holy Liturgy and Memorial Service for Queen Maria was officiated at the Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava in London today [April 28, 2013]
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The ceremony was conducted in the presence of the Crown Prince Alexander,
Crown Princess Katherine, Prince Peter, Prince Philip, as well as
Princess Katarina, Prince Vladimir, Prince Dimitri and Princess Lavinia
The Serbian royal family have been working to have their relatives returned to the country for seven years
Queen Maria's remains have been transferred from the Royal Burial Ground
in Frogmore, Windsor Castle to the [St. Sava Serbian Orthodox] church and will
then be transferred to Belgrade
Queen Maria was the second cousin once removed of both Queen Elizabeth II
and the Duke of Edinburgh
Queen Maria has been buried at the Royal Burial Ground adjacent
to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore, Windsor
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please feel free to contact me at ravnagora@hotmail.com
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