BREAKING: King Mihai of Romania has died

King Michai I of Romania was born on 25 October 1921 as the eldest legitimate son of King Carol II & Queen Helen {Source}. He had one older half brother, Prince Mircea Grigore Carol Hohenzollern{Source}.

Prince Mircea Grigore Carol Hohenzollern was not included in succession because  King Ferdinand forced the annulment of his parents' marriage in January 1919 in the Supreme Court of Romania and Carol was born outside the 300-day period allowed to permit legitimacy, on 8 August 1920 {Source}


King Michai (or Michael) reigned in Romania sporadically over the last 60 years. His first reign began at the age of 6, in 1927 after the death of his grandfather, with regency held by his uncle Prince Nicholas{Source}. This reign lasted until 1930, when his father returned to Romania and was proclaimed King{Source}.His second reign began in 1940, and only officially lasted seven years. He was forced to abdicate in 1947 by the Romanian government {Source}.During the War, he would comfort Romanian soldiers who fought for the unification of the country{Source}. In 1944, His Majesty King opposed with all his might instilling communist authorities (royal strike was the culmination of these attempts){Source}.

Eventually, he was forced to abdicate on 30 December 1947, under the threat of killing, in case of refusal, the 1,000 young communist prisoners. Abdication Act signed under threat, is illegal and void. Moreover, the act has never been sanctioned by Parliament{Source}.

He married Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma on 10 June 1948 {Source}. They began their lives together in exile, in Greece{Source}. From 1949-1956, they traveled extensively while expanding their family, mostly living between Switzerland and England {Source}. During their time in exile, they were not receiving any income from the Romanian government, therefore they opened a chicken farm and small carpentry workshop in order to make ends meet {Source}. Upon the family's return to Switzerland in 1956, Prince Michael signed a contract with Lear Jets, and the family remained there from 1956-2001 {Source}. In 1958, King has stopped working with "Lear" and a year later he founded a company for electronics and automatic mechanisms, called METRAVEL, which sold it five years later{Source}. He had two official offices, one in Versoix, Switzerland and Bucharest, Romania {Source}.


With his wife, Queen Anne, he has five daughters, two sons-in-law, and three former sons-in-law, two grandsons, three granddaughters, two grandchildren-in-law (and another due summer 2018) as well as three great grandchildren:

1. Crown Princess Margarita (1949)
1. Prince Radu of Romania (1997)
2. Princess Elena (1950)
1. Dr. Robin Medforth-Mills (1942-2002,m. 1983-1991, div)
1. Mr. Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills (1985)
2. Miss Elisabeta Karina de Roumanie Medforth-Mills (1989)
2. Alexander Philips Nixon McAteer (m. 1998)
3. Mrs. Irina Walker (1953)
1. John Kreuger (m 1983, div 2003)
1. Michael Torsten de Roumanie Kreuger (1985)
1. Tara Littlefeld (m. 2011)
1. Kohen de Roumanie Kreuger (2012)
2. Angelica Margaretta Bianca de Roumanie Kreuger Knight (1986)
1. Richard Robert Knight (m 2009)
1. Courtney Bianca Knight (2007)
2. Diana Knight (2011)
2. John Westley Walker (m 2003)
4. Princess Sophie of Romania (1957)
1. Alain Michel Biarneix (m.1998-2002, div)
1. Elisabeth-Maria de Roumanie Biarneix (1998)
5. Princess Maria of Romania (1964)
1. Kazimierz Wieslaw Mystkowsk (m 1995, div 2003)

He shared a birthday with:

• Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, The Duchess of Brabant (2001)
• Count Constantin de Limburg-Stirum (2013)

He was the second eldest current living descendants of Queen Victoria, thus was in succession for the British throne. The current living oldest descendants of Queen Victoria are:

• Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh (1921, beat Mihai by only a few months)
• Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1926)
• Lady Pamela Carmen Louise Hicks (1929)
• Princess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner (1932)
• Anne Mary Sibylla Liddell-Grainger (1932)

As with his wife before him, his youngest daughter Princess Maria was by his side. His other daughters had previously spent private visits with their father in recent weeks.

Funeral details have yet to be announced. Upon her father's death, Crown Princess Margareta issued the following statement{Source}{Video-in Romanian}:

Romanians,
The country lost King Michael. For over nine decades, he dedicated to Romania with all the strengths that God bestowed onto him. And death alone could put an end to his tireless and patient work.
We have all suffered an immense loss. A personal loss and a loss for the entire nation.We mourn together, knowing that we are united in our sorrow. Praying to God give us strength, in this terrible moment.
An example of unwavering devotion to his people, with a high sense of duty and strong principles, he wrote the most valuable page  in the contemporary history of our nation.
His kindness and compassion defeated all villainy of the past century, and his wisdom ensured the consistency of our identity, in times of serious devotion from the natural path of our State and Nation. The King was part of our fabric of our people and we are all very proud of him.
By his work, King Mihai continued the ties that bind the Royal Family to the Romanian Nation. For our tomorrow, he gave us his today.
A new time starts for my Family and the Royal House of Romania. Inspired by the same sentiments as my father, I will continue his work, for the fulfillment of our mission towards the Romanian people.
So God help us!

His grandson, Nicholas de Romanie Medforth-Mills, released the following statement on Facebook{Source}:

Today, Romania lost its king and one of the greatest leaders of th century Europe, a symbol of debt to his country. My grandfather was the leader who loved his country and her people!
Today I lost my best friend, my grandfather, but I consider myself a lucky man because I had the privilege to be raised and formed by him, with my duty to the country and the promise that I will always try to make him proud Me.
Grandpa, I'll miss you and I won't forget you taught me about real values, immortal in time.
Rest in peace!

His  1st cousin 1x removed through King Constantine I of Greece, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Prince of Denmark released the following statement on instagram:

‪King Michael of Romania has died at 96. An uncle of mine, son of Princess Helen who was daughter of King Constantine I of Greece. He was a peaceful and kind man who helped save thousands in Romania prior to the end of WWII. May he Rest In Peace.

 According to the revised house laws of 2007 and 2015, Crown Princess Margareta is now head of the Royal House of Romania {Source}.

UPDATE 12-6-17: Funeral details: {Source}

Wednesday 12-13-2017:
the body will be received by the Royal Family at 11:00 AM Local time at Otopeni Airport, from where he will be transported by car to Peleş Castle

Press will have access to this event, but not the general public.
His body will lay in Peleş Castle's Hall of Honor starting at 1PM. The schedule of visitors is as follows:

• 14:15h: The institution of the President of Romania, the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova, Members of the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, Members of the Parliament of Romania and of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. 
• - 15-16: Representatives of State, Central and Local Institutions. 
• - 16-17: Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the European Union, NATO and International Organizations. 
• - 17-18: Representatives of the Romanian Academy and the State Academy of the Republic of Moldova, the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church and the other institutions of the Faith.

Public will not have access to this, but the press will have limited access. That same evening, he will be transported from Peles Castle to the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace (49-53 Calea Victoriei), where it will arrive at 20.30. The ceremony will be private. The public and the press will not have access to the Throne Hall during the ceremony. The press will have access only at the entrance to the Royal Palace.

All who wish to lay flowers and worship at the defunct Majesty's vault will be able to come to the Royal Palace Hall of the Throne:

• Wednesday, 13 December 2017, between 21.00 and 24.00; 
• Thursday, December 14, 2017, between 08.00 and 22.00; 
• Friday, December 15, 2017, between 08.00 and 22.00. 

Free entry, with media access during this time.

12-16-2017:

• 10:30AM Local time there will be a short religious service at the Royal Palace Hall of the Throne no public or media access.
• 10:55AM Local time the coffin will arrive at the cathedral in the Royal Palace Square. Another short religious and military ceremony will take place. Press and public will have access to certain areas to view this event.
• 11:15AM Local time the coffin will be placed inthe mortuary car and proceed from the Royal Palace Square downhill along the Royal Palace Square - Victory Road - Splaiul Independenţei - Unirii Square - Entrance to the Metropolitan Hill.
• 12:30-2PM the funeral service will take place at the Patriarhală Cathedral. There will be no public or press access during this time.
• 2PM-6:20PM, the funeral cortege will pass through Curtea de Argeş, on the Union Square, University Square, Roman Square, Arch of Triumph, Chitila, Titu, Găeşti, Topoloveni, Piteşti, Curtea de Argeş. There will be no stops along the way, however they will move slowly for the locals.
• 6:45PM local time, the burial service will take place at the New Cathedral in Curtea de Arges. The ceremony will be private, but the public will have access only in front of the entrance gate to the Archaeological Park of Arges. The press will have access to the New Cathedral in Curtea de Arges.
• The presence of the press will not be allowed within the New Cathedral, neither before nor during the burial ceremony. The new Cathedral can not be visited within the first 7 days after the funeral.
• The Royal Family announces great mourning for 40 days and mourning for three months (from death). Great mourning and mourning refers to the public presence of members of the Royal Family.
• Condolence books are open today, at Peles Castle, at the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei) and Elisabeth Palace. They are available to the public for 40 days from the date of death.
• Condolence messages can be submitted online at http://www.familiaregala.ro/mesaje

Who I expect to see: the Greek Royals, Spanish royals, de bourbon-Parma royals (Queen Anne's family), and maybe a Brit or two, at least. What we can say is Fact, is that his grandson, Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills and his fiancee, Alina-Maria Binder will be in attendance {Source}

Confirmed attendees:

• Crown Princess Margareta
• Prince Radu
• Princess Elena
• Alexander Philips Nixon McAteer
• Princess Sophie of Romania
• Princess Maria of Romania
• Mrs. Irina Walker
• Elisabeta-Maria de Roumanie Biarneix
• Elisabetta-Karina  de Roumanie Medforth-Mills
• Nicholas Michael de Roumanie Medforth-Mills {Source}
• Alina-Maria Binder (Nicholas's fiancee){Source}
• The Prince Charles of Wales {Source}
• Queen Sofia of Spain (1st cousin of King Mihai) {Source}
• King Juan Carlos of Spain {Source}
• Princess Astrid of Belgium, The Archduchess of Austria-Este {Source}
• Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este  {Source} {Source} (also attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Queen Anne-Marie of Greece  {Source}
• King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden {Source}
• Queen Silvia of Sweden{Source}
• Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia{Source}
• Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia {Source}
• King Simeon II of Bulgaria  {Source}
• Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg  {Source}
• members of royal families from Bahrain, and Japan (who exactly remains to be seen) {Source}

Possible: 

• Prince Albert II of Monaco
• Princess Muna al-Hussein of Jordan
• Maximilian, The Margrave of Baden (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Michael Torsten de Roumanie Kreuger (possible, he did not attend his grandmother's funeral)
• Tara Littlefeild de Roumanie Kreuger (possible, she did not attend her grandmother-in-law's funeral)
• Kohen de Roumanie Kreuger (possible, he did not attend his great-grandmother's funeral)
• Angelica de Roumanie Kreuger Knight   (possible, she did not attend her grandmother's funeral)
• Richard Robert Knight  (possible, he did not attend his grandmother-in-law's funeral)
• Courtney Bianca Knight  (possible, she did not attend her great-grandmother's funeral)
• Diana Knight (possible, she did not attend her great-grandmother's funeral)
• Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia(attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria(attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Archduke Carl Christian of Austria(attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Archduke Martin of Austria(attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Archduke Dominic of Austria, Prince of Tuscany (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Baron Hans von Holzhausen (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, The Duke of Parma (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
• Grand Duchess Maria of Russia (attended Queen Anne's funeral)
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