Royal Family of Montenegro

[Benjamin]

Prince Nikola recently paid a visit to the town of Danilovgrad, where he had a working meeting with its mayor, Branislav Djuranovic. The Prince said that he will be moving to Montenegro at the beginning of 2012. Also, it was confirmed that the Petrovic-Njegos Foundation is currently in the process of being established, and its registration should be complete by November.

Impresioniran razvojem op
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[Cory]

Zvanina internet prezentacija Kraljevskog doma Karaorevi

[Fürstin Taxis]

Princess Brigita reminds me of the late Soraya of Persia.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Cory

The Royal Families of Serbia and Montengro do not seem very close.

The photographs in the link you posted yesterday appear at odds with this statement.

[American Dane]

Originally Posted by CSENYC

Of countries that could become monarchies again- didn't Montenegro just give some official status to its royal family?

Yes they did, from the Wikipedia article on Crown Prince Nicholas II of Montenegro:

"On the 12 July 2011 the Parliament of Montenegro adopted the Law on the Status of the Descendants of the Petrović Njegoš Dynasty. [2][3]
The law "regulates the important issues regarding the status of the descendants of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty, for the historical and moral rehabilitation of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty for whom their dethroning was contrary to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Montenegro, a violent act of annexation in the year 1918." (Article 1).

The law recognises the descendants of King Nikola I in the male line and their wives as the descendants of the Petrović-Njegoš dynasty (Article 2), and appoints the eldest male heir, namely Prince Nikola II, as the representative of the dynasty (Article 5). It also affirms the House law of the dynasty by defining the succession to the headship of the dynasty as being passed down through the "male heir of the oldest male heir" (Article 5). The law protects the use of the heraldic symbols of the dynasty by the representative of the dynasty, Prince Nikola II (Article 6).

Article 8 allows for members of the dynasty to obtain Montenegrin citizenship and also to be dual-nationals of other nations without losing their Montenegrin citizenship. This is of particular relevance today as all of the members of the dynasty currently also hold French citizenship.
The law also creates the non-political (Article 10) Petrović-Njegoš Foundation (Article 9), an organisation chaired by Prince Nikola II (Article 10), with its aim to "affirm the Montenegrin culture and participation in humanitarian and development activities in the interest of Montenegro and its traditions" (Article 9).

From Montenegro's exchequer, the law allocates 4.3 million euros over a seven year period to the Petrović-Njegoš Foundation (Article 11). In addition, Prince Nikola II is entitled to a monthly income equivalent to the gross monthly earnings of the President of Montenegro (Article 16).
The Petrovic-Njegoš Foundation has its seat in Montenegro. "The Descendants of the dynasty are given the continuous use of the house of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš in Njeguši...its gardens...and meadow-land."
"Descendants of the dynasty will have built for them a family home in Cetinje...and be given an apartment in Podgorica" (Article 12).
To carry out their official functions Prince Nikola II has the right to use State objects and resources and "the exclusive right of use of the first storey" of the Petrović Palace (Dvorac Petrovića) in Podgorica, "and when protocol requires, use of the ground floor with priority over other users" (Article 13).
The law allows for Prince Nikola II to act as a representative of the Government of Montenegro and perform other protocolar and non-political functions (Article 7). The first such undertaking was made by the Prince in July 2011 when he represented the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Igor Lukšić, at the requiem of Otto von Habsburg, former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary.

When performing functions on behalf of the Government, Prince Nikola II and the other members of the dynasty are afforded full State protocol (Article 15)." "
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[principessa]

Does anyone known if the website of the MRF has going offline or was moved to an other adress?

[Benjamin]

The Petrovic-Njegos Foundation will begin its work in February and will be based out of the first floor of Petrovic Castle in Podgorica.

In the meantime, Prince Nikola has been visiting various municipalities around the country in order to gain insight into the situation of the Montenegrin people.

Source: Vijesti

[Cory]

HRH Prince Nicholas visiting the city of Niksic:

Noblesse & Royautés » Nicolas de Monténégro en visite à Niksic

[Ruhije]

Following the many views and questions re Montenegro and the Monarchies future role and status, i thought the comparisons with King Michael in Romania valid and interesting.
The situation in Albania with the Royal Zogu family is similar and their role and status somewhere between that in Montenegro and Romania.
King Leka I, who died in Dec 2011, had property restored to him and his son, and the immediate family honoured with official acknowledgment and issued with diplomatic passports and status.
HRH Prince Leka II Zogu has now worked for sometime as an advisor and diplomat in the Albanian Government for several departments.
The Government gave the Zogu family a former palace/villa in Tirana, which is accepted as The Royal Court of Albania. Also King Leka's funeral was an official televised event and a national day of state mourning.
It is just as likely that the status of The Montenegro Royal family could remain the same as it is now, in an honoury but official status. Although i agree with those others too who suggest the equal state salary of Crown Prince (non-reigning) and President seems an unusual situation indefinately.
Whether the Monarchy is really fully restored as a Kingdom is very interesting and hopeful, but even the present situation and status of the Royal family in Montenegro now is still fantastic and historic.

[Cory]

Nobody ever spoken about a poll showing the opinion in Montenegro about the restoration of Monarchy.

[Domhangairt]

The new law passed by Montenegro doesnot represent any monarchy restoration whatsoever. It merely addresses issues surrounding the restoration of property, and gives some kind of honory role to Prince Nicola- this is not restoration at all. A restoration can only come about with a national referendum and the establishment of a new constitution replacing the president with a king, giving the king a constitutional role within the state. This has not happened in Montenegro or any of the other Balkan states- the politicians all have vested interests in maintain the republican status quo, regardless of what the general population would prefer.

[Benedict XVI]

Is it possible for the people of Montenegro to sign a petition that would give them the chance to have a referendum? If not is there any possible way for the people to formally request one? And if you would not mind could u tell me what percentage of the people want a restoration?

Thank you