Princess Margarita of Romania
Encyclopedia
Princess Margarita of Romania (born 26 March 1949, Lausanne
, Switzerland), also styled as Crown Princess of Romania, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, former Princess of Hohenzollern, is the eldest daughter of Michael I (Mihai), King of Romania
(now deposed), former Prince of Hohenzollern, and of his wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma
. Princess Margarita's father, King Michael, named her the heiress-presumptive to the private royal family in 1997.
Margarita has no children. Her heiress-presumptive is her next sister, Princess Elena of Romania
. According to the defunct last democratic royal Constitution, that of 1923, which established succession by salic law
, Margarita and her sisters cannot succeed to the throne of Romania (see also "Line of succession to the Romanian throne
").
On 30 December 2007, King Michael designated Princess Margarita as heiress-presumptive to the throne with the titles of "Crown Princess of Romania" and "Custodian of the Romanian Crown" through an act which, during the republican form of government and in the absence of its approval by the Parliament, would be considered null and void. On the same occasion, Michael also asked the Romanian Parliament that, should it consider restoring the Monarchy, it should also abolish the salic law
of succession.
Margarita married Radu Duda, created first Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen in 1 January 1999, and now called HRH Radu, Prince of Romania in 30 December 2007, future Prince Consort of Romania, who either in her company or most often alone, represents the Royal Family publicly on various occasions. In her youth at the University of Edinburgh
, Margarita was involved in a romantic relationship with Gordon Brown
, who was later to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
(2007–2010). Margarita said about it: "It was a very solid and romantic story. I never stopped loving him but one day it didn't seem right any more, it was politics, politics, politics, and I needed nurturing."
project team, she worked on the public awareness campaign concerning agricultural programs, nutrition, and poverty alleviation. Three years later she joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development
. In the autumn of 1989 she gave up her UN career and moved to Geneva
to work with her father, devoting herself entirely to charity work for Romania.
In 1990 Princess Margarita founded The Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has contributed to the development of civil society in Romania.
Currently active in 6 countries (Romania, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the US) the Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation develops programs that:
During its existence, The Princess Margarita Foundation has collected more than 5 million Euro, through which it has contributed to the development of the Romanian civil society
.
, one of the donors to her charity, and its representatives, have been involved in a corruption scandal regarding the purchase by the Romanian government of two decommissioned UK Royal Navy
frigates refurbished by BAE, for which an alleged £ 7 million bribe was paid, some of which, it is also alleged, ended up in the pockets of the royal family of Hohenzollern to which Margarita belongs. The "Gardianul" newspaper, noting that both Princess Margarita and her husband, as Special Representative of the Government, had met a number of times with the BAE Systems representatives before and after the signing of the governmental contract, inquired whether the royal family was involved in any lobbying on behalf of the company. In an official communique sent to the newspaper, Prince Radu denied any such lobbying activities, stating that as patron of the British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce in which BAE Systems is a member, he met with this as well as other British companies' representatives.
, currently extra-parliamentarian, is ambiguous in its support for Princess Margarita. In 2002, it rejected any role for her or her husband in a restored monarchy, while in 2003 the Cluj
branch of PNŢCD officially invited her to be its electoral candidate to the Senate of the Republic in the upcoming elections.
King Michael has not given up the hope for himself or his family of returning on the throne: "We are trying to make people understand what Romanian monarchy was and what it can still do."
Lausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
, Switzerland), also styled as Crown Princess of Romania, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, former Princess of Hohenzollern, is the eldest daughter of Michael I (Mihai), King of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
(now deposed), former Prince of Hohenzollern, and of his wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma
Queen Anne of Romania
Queen Anne of Romania , is the wife of the former King Michael I of Romania.She is a niece of Empress Zita of Austria and a great niece of Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia.-Early life:...
. Princess Margarita's father, King Michael, named her the heiress-presumptive to the private royal family in 1997.
Margarita has no children. Her heiress-presumptive is her next sister, Princess Elena of Romania
Princess Elena of Romania
-Titles and styles:* 15 November 1950–present: Her Royal Highness, Princess Elena of Romania, Princess of Hohenzollern-Ancestry:-External links:* *...
. According to the defunct last democratic royal Constitution, that of 1923, which established succession by salic law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
, Margarita and her sisters cannot succeed to the throne of Romania (see also "Line of succession to the Romanian throne
Line of succession to the Romanian throne
The succession order to the throne of Romania depends on the interpretation of the applicable laws, either the Romanian kingdom's last democratic constitution, that of 1923, or the new Statute of the Royal House of Romania, named Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Royal House, privately enacted by...
").
On 30 December 2007, King Michael designated Princess Margarita as heiress-presumptive to the throne with the titles of "Crown Princess of Romania" and "Custodian of the Romanian Crown" through an act which, during the republican form of government and in the absence of its approval by the Parliament, would be considered null and void. On the same occasion, Michael also asked the Romanian Parliament that, should it consider restoring the Monarchy, it should also abolish the salic law
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
of succession.
Private life
On 21 September 1996 in LausanneLausanne
Lausanne is a city in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland, and is the capital of the canton of Vaud. The seat of the district of Lausanne, the city is situated on the shores of Lake Geneva . It faces the French town of Évian-les-Bains, with the Jura mountains to its north-west...
Margarita married Radu Duda, created first Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen in 1 January 1999, and now called HRH Radu, Prince of Romania in 30 December 2007, future Prince Consort of Romania, who either in her company or most often alone, represents the Royal Family publicly on various occasions. In her youth at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, Margarita was involved in a romantic relationship with Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
, who was later to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
(2007–2010). Margarita said about it: "It was a very solid and romantic story. I never stopped loving him but one day it didn't seem right any more, it was politics, politics, politics, and I needed nurturing."
Education and work
After graduation from the University of Edinburgh, she worked in a number of British universities, specialising in medical sociology and public health policy, later on participating in an international research program coordinated by the World Health Organisation, focused on developing health policy recommendations and preventive pilot projects. In 1983 she moved to Rome and joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (UN), where, as a member the World Food DayWorld Food Day
World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945...
project team, she worked on the public awareness campaign concerning agricultural programs, nutrition, and poverty alleviation. Three years later she joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development
International Fund for Agricultural Development
The International Fund for Agricultural Development , a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries...
. In the autumn of 1989 she gave up her UN career and moved to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
to work with her father, devoting herself entirely to charity work for Romania.
In 1990 Princess Margarita founded The Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation, a non-profit organisation that has contributed to the development of civil society in Romania.
Currently active in 6 countries (Romania, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Belgium and the US) the Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation develops programs that:
- improve the living conditions of children and young people, families at risk and the elderly;
- stimulate intergenerational solidarity and create bridges of communication between the young and the elderly;
- contribute to the institutional development of NGOs working with children and seniors;
- foster local creativity and talent.
During its existence, The Princess Margarita Foundation has collected more than 5 million Euro, through which it has contributed to the development of the Romanian civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
.
Controversies
BAE SystemsBAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
, one of the donors to her charity, and its representatives, have been involved in a corruption scandal regarding the purchase by the Romanian government of two decommissioned UK Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
frigates refurbished by BAE, for which an alleged £ 7 million bribe was paid, some of which, it is also alleged, ended up in the pockets of the royal family of Hohenzollern to which Margarita belongs. The "Gardianul" newspaper, noting that both Princess Margarita and her husband, as Special Representative of the Government, had met a number of times with the BAE Systems representatives before and after the signing of the governmental contract, inquired whether the royal family was involved in any lobbying on behalf of the company. In an official communique sent to the newspaper, Prince Radu denied any such lobbying activities, stating that as patron of the British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce in which BAE Systems is a member, he met with this as well as other British companies' representatives.
Political support
The main pro-monarchist party PNŢCDChristian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)
The Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party is a Romanian Christian-Democratic party...
, currently extra-parliamentarian, is ambiguous in its support for Princess Margarita. In 2002, it rejected any role for her or her husband in a restored monarchy, while in 2003 the Cluj
Cluj County
Cluj ; is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with the capital city at Cluj-Napoca.-Demographics:In 2007, it had a population of 692,316 and a population density of 104/km².*Romanians – 80%*Hungarians – 17.5%*Roma – 2.5%-Geography:...
branch of PNŢCD officially invited her to be its electoral candidate to the Senate of the Republic in the upcoming elections.
King Michael has not given up the hope for himself or his family of returning on the throne: "We are trying to make people understand what Romanian monarchy was and what it can still do."
Ancestors
See also
- Line of succession to the Romanian throneLine of succession to the Romanian throneThe succession order to the throne of Romania depends on the interpretation of the applicable laws, either the Romanian kingdom's last democratic constitution, that of 1923, or the new Statute of the Royal House of Romania, named Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Royal House, privately enacted by...
- Line of succession to the British throneLine of succession to the British ThroneThe line of succession to the British throne is the ordered sequence of those people eligible to succeed to the throne of the United Kingdom and the other 15 Commonwealth realms. By the terms of the Act of Settlement 1701, the succession is limited to the descendants of the Electress Sophia of...