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AFP - Getty Images
Serbian Patriarch Irinej performs a liturgy during a solemn burial ceremony for the remains of Yugoslavia's last king Peter II Karadjordjevic, in Belgrade, on Jan. 22. The remains of the last Yugoslav king Peter II Karadjordjevic, who fled the country in the onset of Nazi invasion, were repatriated today for a re-burial in Serbia, 43 years after his death in exile in the United States. After being exhumed last week from the Serb Orthodox monastery Saint Sava at Libertyville, US, the coffin with remains of the Peter II, covered with the Serbian flag, was brought to the church at the Royal palace of Karadjordjevic in Belgrade.
The King has left the country.
Yugoslavia's last king, Peter II Karadjordjevic, who died in the United States in 1970, was taken to Serbia Tuesday, thus removing the only European royal to be buried on American soil.
The former ruler had fled the Nazis at the start of World War II. He decided to stay in the U.S. when Communists took over Yugoslavia at the end of the war.
He died in exile at the age of 47 and had been buried at the Serbian Orthodox Church monastery in Libertyville, Ill.
Darko Vojinovic / AP
A royalist supporter holds up a candle and picture of Yugoslavia's last king — Peter II Karadjordjevic during a solemn ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 22.
Darko Vojinovic / AP
This photo shows a Serbian Orthodox style icon depicting Jesus Christ, said to have been damaged by bullet holes from rounds shot by Serbian communist supporters after World War II, seen inside the Serbian royal family complex in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 22. The remains of Yugoslavia's last king, Peter II Karadjordjevic, who died in the U.S. in 1970, were flown back to Serbia in a solemn ceremony on Tuesday, despite protests by some Serb royalists in America. The former king fled the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia at the start of World War II and never returned, as Communists took over at the end of the war, and he died in exile with his remains buried at a Serbian Orthodox monastery in Libertyville, Illinois, the only European monarch buried on U.S. soil.
Darko Vojinovic / AP
Royalist supporters wearing old military uniforms are seen during a solemn ceremony after the remains of Yugoslavia's last king — Peter II Karadjordjevic were flown back to Serbia in Belgrade, Serbia, on Jan. 22.
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All these years and I didn't even know he was here. Why did it take so long to take him back?
Yugoslavia had been in turmoil for years afterwards. I guess only up until the 2000s.
In the end will all be cremated--by the a red giant sun.
I guess that makes sinners out of billions if not trillions by then.
No, we were born sinners, gizmo. Whether you believe in God, god, gods or nothing. We ALL make mistakes! Gentically, we are hardwired that way!
May he now rest in peace. This removes all reason for Yugoslavia to ever try to invade the USA.
If Yugoslavia even existed anymore......
I guess you missed the whole Bosnia/Serbia/Croatia/Kosovo stuff in the news over the past 20 years....
AND STAY OUT!! :Op
Where's George Castanza?
I'm right here, my son.
I'm grateful that such a sad chapter of history has a quiet ending. May he rest in peace.
I'll bet that didn't smell very good on the plane ride home... ugh...
I'll bet that didn't smell very good on the plane ride home... ugh...
I wonder what his life was like in the US. How did he make a living? Was he married? Are their any little kings walking around Libertyville?
King Peter came to the throne at the tender age of 11, after his father, the King, was assasinated while visiting in France.He was the last of only three Kings to rule over the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Which was abolished in 1945. Prior to 3 Oct 1929, it was a series of smaller Kingdoms and States,including the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovanians, and State of Serbia which were combined together by 1918 and officially recognized as the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovanians.
Since he was considered too young to rule,in 1941 a Regent was selected, who sided with Germany.Two days later, King Peter came of age and reversed that decision. Causing Germany and several other axel countries to attack his country.While dividing up it up as spoils of war.The King fled into exil,his monarchy abolished. Because Winston Churchill saw siding with Stalin would end the war quicker, King Peter's land was kept with the commuist block nations.
He had married in 1942 and moved to the United States by then, later having a son, named Alexander. He worked hard to establish a fair working government for his country. Unfortunately he struggled with cirrhosis of the liver, and died far too young after a failed liver transplant.His death ended the Royal house recognized having rights, which had existed since the early 19th century in that area.
Prince Alexander worked hard to get his father buried back in his country for many years and sent many petitions that were turned down. The last was in 2005 to the government.It was finally granted January 14,2013.The King has three grandsons not living in the United States.He was a King who believed in freedom, decency and justice for all his people.
@Windancersong - Thanks for that information. You just enlightened many of us!
Interesting stuff!
We have 6 German prisoners of WWII buried here at Fort Drum.
Isn't it sad how we're all only humans? yet a Kraut was the public enemy number one not so long ago.
Why can't we all be friends?
We did a big misstake i think back now' to get involved in the bombing of a christain/slavic country yugoslavia' that fought side by side with us in worldwar2,the bombing was again to help the muslims, cause the yugoslav president had enough of terroists acts in his country, and just started exterminating them,and we butted in to stop him with bombs sad,when you think about it' its all about money, all the muslims got together and there money together/oil to go to nato to tell them to bomb,thats why the muslims might take us over one day, cause us christains do not stick together like the muslims do around the world, im sorry to say that but thats 100% true,may god rest the yugoslav kings soul Amen
You forgot the part about Serbian concentration camps and genocide of Muslims
Joe wrote "christains do not stick together like the muslims."
Point 1: Muslims hardly "stick together." We saw close-up in Iraq how Sunnis and Shiites "stick together."
Point 2: Religious belief is often used to excuse murderous behavior. There is no excuse.
You are hardly a Christian, Christians do not hate Muslims as you do.
Bill, get off it. Who the hell are you to decide the precepts of Christianity. Wake up, stupid, these people who you obviously love, are out to erradiate Christianity and every other religion outside of Islaam. Take a pole, just about everyone hates muslims, just as anyone would hate, terrorism, beheadings, sharia law, bombings, and flying planes into buildings. The only thing worse is people like you.
Yes my Slavic Christian Brother I couldnt agree more that whole war was sickening, My eldest brother was in the USAF at the time and was in charge of Flight coordinations, after a few weeks he couldnt do it and got an honorable discharge, my Grandparents especially were beside thereselves coming from Czecheslovakia. I wish all our slavic people would learn to live in Harmony. Let the King be at peace..In our Motherland
I have to ask. Who paid for this????????
General comment on the "Royalist supporters wearing old military uniforms" shown in the photo accompanying the story: they need to find a new tailor.
What a huge waste of money for this rather poor country.
bill depp s#!t; its people like you that need to go to the middleeast and anywhere where there is muslims, then let me hear you say the muslims where all good to you, and have you ever been to europe' there is alot of poor places in my home land America, but there is alot of beutiful places as well in the states, that goes for all of the european countrys, its not africa buddy' where everything is backwards' go see some of the places before you talk ur s#!t
They revoked his passport !! about time.
Yes...bill depp, it could be considered a huge waste of money. However, if George Washington were buried in London....would you consider it a waste of money to bring him home? This was for their national pride...their sense of self. It was not money wasted. If the king is aware, I am sure that he is happier knowing that he was resting with his own people.
If he's aware of what's going on, how is he "resting"? He's somewhere doing SOMETHING, unless his "spirit" is in the ground. If so, he's probablyy mad that someone woke him up.
This was a lovely symbolic gesture for the Serbian people.
Long live the king! Was nice to see he was welcomed back in his homeland.
What a complete waste of time. He's either completely unaware of what's going on because he's DEAD, or, if, as some believe, he's in an afterlife, what does he care? He's in the afterlife, for goodness' sake.