Princess Elena of Romania
Princess Elena | |
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Born | Lausanne, Switzerland | 15 November 1950
Spouse | |
Anne of Bourbon-Parma | |
Religion | Romanian Orthodox |
Romanian royal family |
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‡Status disputed |
Princess Elena of Romania (born 15 November 1950
Elena is first in the line of succession to the former Romanian throne and headship of the
's heir presumptive.Early life
Birth
Elena was born on 15 November 1950 at Clinique de Montchoisi in Lausanne, Switzerland as the second daughter of King Michael I and Queen Anne. She was baptised in the Orthodox faith;[1] her godmothers were her paternal grandmother Helen, Queen Mother of Romania (who was also her namesake) and also Queen Mary of the United Kingdom.[3][4]
Childhood
Elena spent her childhood at her family homes in Lausanne, Switzerland, and in the United Kingdom at Ayot House, St Lawrence, Hertfordshire; during holidays she and her sisters spent time with their grandmother, Helen, Queen Mother in Florence, Italy at Villa Sparta and in Denmark with Princess Margaret and Prince René.[5] She and her sisters were told "fascinating tales of a homeland they couldn't visit" by their father.[6]
Education
Elena received her primary education in Switzerland[7] and her secondary at Effingham House in Little Common, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex; she was fond of sports during her school years, playing on goal defence in the netball team.[citation needed]
Careers
In the mid 1970s, Elena taught handicapped children for a short period of time in London and after her leaving, she began a two-year course in art restoration;[8] following the end of her course she worked in an art restoration firm in London.[1]
Activities
In the 1980s Elena along with her first husband
In 1990 along with Elena’s first husband, the then-
On 26 June 2011, Elena and her second husband Alexander Nixon visited the Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington, County Durham, England[12] to present awards to students who went to Romania for voluntary work and helping to build and repair housing in Brașov, a project based around the Roma community.[13]
On 3 October 2011, Elena attended the 100th commemorative anniversary of the historic Western travels of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá in London, as a great-granddaughter of Queen Marie who had converted to the Baháʼí Faith,[14] Elena spoke of how her great grandmother's Baháʼí legacy has inspired her to help those of need.[15]
On 25 April 2012, for the
Elena also annually attends the Guildhall banquet of the Guild of Freemen of the City of London[18][19] and the delegation of the Two Sicilian Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in London.[20]
In Romania
After 50 years of exile of the
Elena's first official appearance in Romania was on 19 April 1992 on Easter Day along with former King Michael I, his wife
Since her first visit Elena occasionally visited Romania for family gatherings
Elena was present at the Lying in State of King Michael I in December 2017[33][34] and Queen Anne in August 2016 (held firstly at Peles Castle, and then in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in both cases), at their public funerals[35] in Bucharest and at their burials in Curtea de Argeș.
Elena currently spends her time between Britain with her second husband Alexander and her daughter Elisabeta-Karina at her estate in Easington, County Durham and in Romania at Elisabeta Palace.[1]
Marriages
First marriage
On 20 July 1983, Elena married
- Nicholas Michael de Roumanie Medforth-Mills (b. La Tour Hospital, Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland 1 April 1985),[36] formerly HRH Prince Nicholas of Romania. [citation needed] He married Alina Maria Binder, a Romanian journalist, in a civil ceremony on 6 October 2017 in Henley-on-Thames.[37] On 30 September 2018 the couple married religiously at Saint Elijah Church in Sinaia, and the party took place at Sinaia Casino.[38]
- Elisabeta Karina de Roumanie Medforth-Mills (b. Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, 4 January 1989), goddaughter of the novelist Catherine Cookson and Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown.[39] 2nd in line to the defunct throne after her mother.[40] The family lived at Flass Hall, Esh Winning, Durham.
They were divorced on 28 November 1991 after 8 years of marriage.[1][41]
Second marriage
This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (February 2020) |
Elena was remarried on 14 August 1998 in a civil ceremony at Peterlee to Alexander Philips Nixon McAteer (born 22 October 1964). The marriage was private and was attended by the Romanian royal family, the groom's mother, and close friends. The groom was given the style His Excellency Domnul Alexander McAteer. Alexander changed his surname to Nixon. He is a Knight of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, and holds a number of Romanian decorations. He has consistently refused to take any royal title.
Elena and Alexander married religiously at the Coronation Cathedral, Alba Iulia, on 11 September 2013, privately.[42]
Honours
National
- House of Romania: Knight of the Royal Decoration of the Custodian of the Crown, Special Class[48]
Foreign honours
- Two Sicilian Royal Family: Recipient of the Sacred Military Constantinian Meritorious Medal of Saint George, Special Class[49][50]
- Two Sicilian Royal Family:Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I (29 July 2012)[49][50]
- Montenegrin Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Prince Danilo I, Special Class[51][52]
References
- ^ a b c d e "ASR Principesa Elena". casamajestatiisale.ro. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Linia de succesiune". Familiaregala.ro. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ Spink. "Queen Mary as Godmother". Spink.com. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
- ^ Mihaela Stanescu (6 May 2009). "Cele trei regine". Descopera.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "FPMR". Fpmr.ro. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Romania's Exiled King Longs to Take His Family Home After 42 Years and Reclaim His Throne". People.com. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Prince Radu -". Prince Radu. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
- ISBN 9780786450572. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ISBN 9780786450572. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Northern firms urged to back Romanian relief", article by Andrew Smith, in The Journal, Tuesday, 27 February 1990
- ^ "Princess pleads for aid to Romania", article in the Northern Echo, 27 February 1990
- ^ "Royal Visit – Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College". Qeliz.ac.uk. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Volunteering in Romania – Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College". Qeliz.ac.uk. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "The Baha'i Queen – Marie of Romania". Bahaiteachings.org. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "European Baha'is mark centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's journeys – Bahá'í World News Service". News.bahai.org. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "UK's only Royal tea room is opened by a Royal". W e a r d a l e G a z e t t e. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Familia Regală a României". Princeradu.ro. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Familia Regală a României". Princeradu.ro. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Familia Regală a României". Princeradu.ro. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Constantinian Order Faith-In-Sport Gala Dinner – Sito ufficiale della Real Casa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie". Realcasadiborbone.it. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Ora Regelui LXXXIX | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 19 April 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Queen Marie of Romania / The New Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Dynasty". www.tkinter.smig.net. Archived from the original on 20 March 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "ASR Principesa Maria". Familiaregala.ro. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Familia Regala, la televiziune | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 25 December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Regele Mihai, Regina Ana, Principesa Mostenitoare, Principesa Elena, Principesa Irina, Palatul Elisabeta, martie 2009 | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "În anul 2011 | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Septembrie la Peleș, început de anotimp regal | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 20 September 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Seară la Castelul Peleș dedicată Corpului Diplomatic | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Ceremonia de învestire a unor noi Furnizori ai Casei Regale a României | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Specificul național – o privire istorică și critică | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Imagini de la lansarea cărții "Margareta. Portretul Principesei Moștenitoare" | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Anul Nou, 2014, cu sănătate și bucurii! | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Regele Mihai I, pentru ultima oară la Castelul Peleș | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". www.romaniaregala.ro. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Regele Mihai, pentru ultima oară în Sala Tronului | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". www.romaniaregala.ro. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ "Ziua funeraliilor Regelui Mihai I al României | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". www.romaniaregala.ro. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
- ^ Web Archive
- ^ "Biography".
- ^ "Romania Journal". Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "Royal baby christened in castle chapel". Newcastle Journal: 9. 26 June 1989.
- ^ "Linia de succesiune (Line of Succession)". Casa Majestății Sale (Her Majesty's Household). Asociația Casa Majestății Sale. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ISBN 0-9524229-9-9)
- ^ Mediafax
- ^ "Ordinul Carol I". casamajestatiisale.ro/. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "A patra zi a Jubileului 90 | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". Romaniaregala.ro. 23 October 2011. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Ordinul Coroana". casamajestatiisale.ro/. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Ordinului Coroana României". familiaregala.ro. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Ziua Ordinului Coroana României | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania". www.romaniaregala.ro. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Decoratia Custodele Coroanei". casamajestatiisale.ro/. Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Nine World Leaders honoured by Constantinian Order at London Investiture Ceremony – Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George". constantinian.org.uk. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ a b "The Constantinian Order and the Royal Order of Francis I in Great Britain". constantinian.org.uk. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "Exchange of Honours between the Constantinian Order and the Royal Order of Danilo I of Montenegro – Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George". Constantinian.org.uk. February 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
- ^ "Constantinian Order knights decreed into Royal Order of Danilo I of Montenegro – Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George". Constantinian.org.uk. December 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2016.