Restoration of the Monarchy in Romania

[Andy T]

It is a beautiful dream but I doubt the King will be restored on his Throne.

On that, at least, we share the same sad conclusion.

 

[Cory]

In the event that there are dynastic rights, one of the Hohenzollerns still needs to convert to Orthodoxy to assume Headship of the Royal House, correct?

Nobody will ask them to do so in nowadays Romania.

 

[Benjamin]

Cory, I sincerely appreciate a great deal of your contributions to the forums dedicated to the Royal House of Romania, as you have a lot of knowledge in many areas.

However, sometimes your biases, which we all have, get in the way of the factual nature of your posts.

Under the 1923 Constitution, the successors to the throne, should the main line die out, are the Hohenzollerns...and, under the same constitution, the successors need to be Orthodox. One must accept all of the conditions, or none at all.

 

[Cory]

In nowadays Romania there is no official national state but only 18 denominations equally recognized by the state. It is impossible to ask anybody by law to belong to a certain denomination. In case of the Restoration the religious affiliation of the Royal Family won't be a matter for the Constitution.

 

[LadyRohan]

Nobody will ask them to do so in nowadays Romania.

So in this regard, you choose to ignore article 77 in the Romanian constitution of 1923, where it clearly states that the King shall belong to the Eastern Orthodox religion. That is very inconsistent of you, when you are not allowing for any other arguments to be made against other parts of this long-dead constitution to be updated to modern times.

If the constitution is read carefully and the wording of article 78 viewed in the proper light, it also clearly stipulates that in the absence of direct male-line heirs, brothers of the monarch etc, the King may indicate his successor. With the clear statement in 2009 from the head of the Hohenzollern family, that he was not interested in the Romanian throne, that should be all that is needed to move on to the next step, the King indicating a successor.

When the King did just that in the document signed by his own hand, asking the Romanian parliament to update the line of succession in accordance with modern-day practices, and allowing for female succession, he acted within the constitution he swore to uphold. Ergo, his actions have been above board and according to practice and the spirit of the law at all times.

Whether or not that indication he gave, is followed when a restoration is considered, is another matter, but one cannot fault the King at any step in this process.

 

[Cory]

Just try to read carefully the text of the Constitution of 1923 where it is clearly stated that if the King does not have a direct male successor the Throne passes to the brothers of Carol I and their descendants and only if those do not accept the Crown there could be a proposal of another Royal House excluding the female descendants of the Sovereign. So after King Mihai the dynastic rights will pass to the Hohenzollerns and not to the female descendants of the nowadays King. The fact the Sovereign made a proposal in 2007 does not mean that proposal was in line with the Constitution of 1923.

Regarding the religious affiliation it would be contrary to all the Romanian laws today to force somebody to belong to any of the 18 denominations of the country.

 

[LadyRohan]

Regarding the religious affiliation it would be contrary to all the Romanian laws today to force somebody to belong to any of the 18 denominations of the country.

As it would be contrary to Romanian, EU, European and Western monarchical presedence in 2015 to exclude from a line of succession, daughters of a King, but not sons. No country will revive a monarchy in the West and uphold gender discrimination, and why anyone here supports it, continues to elude me.

I suppose a monarch should be free to believe what he wants, as long as he doesn't produce girls only. Chilling sentiment.

 

[Benjamin]

I suppose a monarch should be free to believe what he wants, as long as he doesn't produce girls only. Chilling sentiment.

That seems to be the line of thinking for those who suddenly have a new found fervor for the Princely Hohenzollerns.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

As it would be contrary to Romanian, EU, European and Western monarchical presedence in 2015 to exclude from a line of succession, daughters of a King, but not sons. No country will revive a monarchy in the West and uphold gender discrimination, and why anyone here supports it, continues to elude me.

I suppose a monarch should be free to believe what he wants, as long as he doesn't produce girls only. Chilling sentiment.

You seem not understand that when a Royal House is defunct their only justification is that very Constitution on which their whole existence as a royal family is based. It is really not that difficult and you make a drama out of nothing. In all countries with an aristocracy -except Spain which has a different system- the titles are inherited via male inheritance. This was the case with all monarchies. In many reigning monarchies the Constitution has been changed to gender-neutrality and the succession has been adapted to it. This was a legislative and democratic decision by the nation's Parliament.

In Romania there is no such Constitution and there is no Parliament which can enforce such changes. When you accept that King Michael can change everything to his own personal daily whims, then you have to accept it too when Princess Margareta decides in her own personal and daily whim that her sister Irina Walker formerly Kreuger, her nephew Michael Kreuger, her cousin Kohen Kreuger, her niece Angelica Knight née Kreuger, her cousins Courtney Knight and Diana Knight are all back in line of succession and can call themselves "Prince (Princess) of Romania".

Why not? The only legal arrangement has been thrown overboard. The pages of that legal arrangement have been used to wipe King Michael's own royal derrière with. The only "rule" seems to be the daily whim of the person who seems to consider him- or herself as the Head of the former Royal House of Romania...

That is what differs you from me. You say: there is no monarchy anymore and the former King has to adapt. I say: there is no monarchy anymore. Anyone who claims a position on ground of that former monarchy has to claim it according the rules which were in force when that monarchy was still reigning. My position gives clarity for anyone involved. Your position is as secure as the next fart of the former King or his pretended successor.

The Hohenzollerns who were cut-off in the "michaelist" line of succession are there for 1000 years and they have followed their House Laws. It is not for nothing that the Chefs of both lines of the House of Hohenzollern (Prince Georg Friedrich for the Protestant line and Prince Karl for the Catholic line) married a partner which is standesgemäß according the regulations of their House. It is not for nothing that Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg has not married his longtime partner Carina Axelsson since she is not standesgemäß according to the regulations of his House and such an union might affect the inheritance of the immense family fortune. They know that -as members of formerly reigning dynasties- they are nothing else than what they are on base of this very same legal document which was in force when they were still a reigning family. Any unilateral change simply changes it to a piece of toilet paper.

Prince Emmanuele Filiberto di Savoia has this position because his father is the son of Italy's last King. His father, and not his father's elder sister Princess Maria Pia, who can claim to be Head of the House because -hey, we are in 2015-. Because that was the legal situation. The Italian monarchy is no more. So the legal situation has been frozen in 1946. When Prince Emmanuele Filiberto decides today that his two daughters will be successors and that his eldest daughter is the future Heir, what will happen when he remarries in a couple of years and get a son? Will he change it again to be sure that the old succession rules will apply again, because now it would befit him and his son? No, if you want to be a monarchy, stick to the rules of the game. When the rules can be changed to any fart, there is no game anymore. It is as simple as that.

 

[eya]

In Romania there is no monarchy anymore but there is a royal family. King Mihai should ensure the continuity of the family. If Hohenzollerns as I read here clearly stated that it does not care about the Romanian throne then the Κing had recreating the line of succession based on his family. Mainstream has changed many times, but I want to believe that he could not do otherwise. Right now the only thing to be done is to ensure the continuity of the family. Why is the restoration of the monarchy perhaps even a little late.

 

[Cory]

The support for the restoration is almost 30% but there is no real support for the descendants of the King.
The Hohenzollerns have never signed any Statement giving up their dynastic rights.

Support for the Royal Family is reflected in the opinion polls regarding restoring the monarchy, as they are the symbol of the monarchy in Romania. Until there is a question asked of people whether they support a continuation of the monarchy under the Royal Family, or by asking a Prince of Hohenzollern to create a new line, there is no basis to dismiss support for the Royal Family.

It is not really like this: not everybody is in favour of Monarchy is in favour of the descendants of the King. The Sovereign has a public support of around 50% while less than 30% support the Monarchy.

It is obvious there will be a new Constitution when the Monarchy is restored. The idea of forcing somebody to change religious affiliation to get a certain position in the society is not accepted at all and anyway the royalists want a future King but the majority of them do not care if he is Catholic or not.

 

[LadyRohan]

The support for the restoration is almost 30% but there is no real support for the descendants of the King.
The Hohenzollerns have never signed any Statement giving up their dynastic rights.

Support for the Royal Family is reflected in the opinion polls regarding restoring the monarchy, as they are the symbol of the monarchy in Romania. Until there is a question asked of people whether they support a continuation of the monarchy under the Royal Family, or by asking a Prince of Hohenzollern to create a new line, there is no basis to dismiss support for the Royal Family.

 

[Benjamin]

Regarding the religious affiliation it would be contrary to all the Romanian laws today to force somebody to belong to any of the 18 denominations of the country.

If a Royal Family is supposed to be a reflection of the country over which they reign, then it would be important for the Romanian Royal House to remain Orthodox, as they are required to do under the 1923 Constitution.

Over eighty percent of Romanians belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The only suitable candidate for royalist Romanians who desire a monarchical future for their nation is Prince Nicholas (né Medforth-Mills), the only son of Princess Helen.

 

[Cory]

If a Royal Family is supposed to be a reflection of the country over which they reign, then it would be important for the Romanian Royal House to remain Orthodox, as they are required to do under the 1923 Constitution.

Over eighty percent of Romanians belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The only suitable candidate for royalist Romanians who desire a monarchical future for their nation is Prince Nicholas (né Medforth-Mills), the only son of Princess Helen.

To ask anybody to have a certain religious affiliation in nowadays Romania is against the laws of the country.
Last year the Romanians refused to vote for an Orthodox politician to become head of State and chose a Lutheran.

 

[Benjamin]

To ask anybody to have a certain religious affiliation in nowadays Romania is against the laws of the country.
Last year the Romanians refused to vote for an Orthodox politician to become head of State and chose a Lutheran.

However, we are not speaking of the nowadays laws of the country.

The Constitution of 1923 is the basis for this discussion about the succession.

Under it, the Head of House must be male and Orthodox. Period. Full stop.

 

[Ceallach]

If old house rules matter then no changes. If you can change it for religion, you can change it to allow women and marriages to commoners. You can't say someone is not acceptable because they are female, which is highly offensive generally in Europe; and then say that another man is acceptable even though he is the wrong religion cause that rule is archaic and changeable. Both are archaic. You can't pick and choose; if house rules are changeable for one then they are changeable period.

 

[Cory]

" Wrong religion"? Carol I was Catholic and he built the modern Romanian state,Ferdinand I was Catholic and united the Great Romania.

The Romanians have two historic religious traditions: Catholicism and Orthodoxy. There were Catholic King's and very important ones. Nobody would respect today a man that changes his religious affiliation only to become King. Nowadays Romania is not XVIth century France.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Paris vaut bien une Messe. (Paris is worth a Mass). People change religion for less than a throne.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

This is all purely theoretical, Catholic, Orthodox and whatever.
My stance is:

- the monarchy will not be restored in Romania

- the Romanian branch of the House Hohenzollern will become extinct with the former King's daughters

- the headship of the former Royal House will simply fade-out as neither the families Von Hohenzollern, Medforth-Mills and Biarneix have shown real interest in it and will continue to live their private lives outside Romania

 

[eya]

This is all purely theoretical, Catholic, Orthodox and whatever.
My stance is:

- the monarchy will not be restored in Romania

- the Romanian branch of the House Hohenzollern will become extinct with the former King's daughters

- the headship of the former Royal House will simply fade-out as neither the families Von Hohenzollern, Medforth-Mills and Biarneix have shown real interest in it and will continue to live their private lives outside Romania

Ok this moment things seem just that. But my stance is that you never know what will happen in indirect or direct future. We must in romania is our issue to try to keep the idea of restoring the monarchy possible. This had somehow succeed with Nikolae but you never know ......

Forget Nicholas. He will date a nice girl somewhere, start a family and career. His house will have some family portraits. There will be some royal porcelain and silverware here, maybe a diamond rivière there and that was it.

I hope Nicolae to read it. He described the future and even his home

Cory it is very important that the royalists to show support whom.

The King is an old man,spent several in life, I believe that we all respect him without doubt. But is this an excuse to support him in all these wrong movements that have done and have cost the monarchy; (Probably)

Oh yes the Prince Radu will always be easy victim for any attacks. And in the future when Margareta will be the head of the royal house will be more. Now if these attacks are fair or unfair like seeing someone . I have no comment

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Forget Nicholas. He will date a nice girl somewhere, start a family and career. His house will have some family portraits. There will be some royal porcelain and silverware here, maybe a diamond rivière there and that was it.

 

[Cory]

The number or royalists are growing so we shall see whom they support in the near future as Pretender.

After King Mihai it is the risk the royalists will support different Pretenders.

It is true there are at least these two groups of royalists. It seems the ANRM is in favour of the descendants of the King.

There are more and more royalists in favour of the Hohenzollerns but no important royalist group will publicly support Prince Karl until the King is still among us.

For the Romanian royalists the purpose is to restore the Monarchy and even those who officially support the descendants of the King know the reality. Many respect too much the King to contradict him so only at the moment of the Succession of the Sovereign we shall see who stii supports his descendants.

The royalists do not want to disagree with the very old King but very few will continue to support the King's Family when the King win't be anymore.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

After King Mihai it is the risk the royalists will support different Pretenders.

Don't they already do? Some royalists consider themselves legitimists (seeing the Fürst and the Erbprinz von Hohenzollern as successors) and some royalists consider themselves michaelists, seeing Princess Margareta as the Heiress.

 

[Benjamin]

Are there any royalist groups that actively support the Prince of Hohenzollern as successor to the King?

I have not seen mention of any in Romania, and, normally, such a thing would receive coverage of some sort.

The issue is that Prince Karl Friedrich has openly stated that he is not interested in pressing any claims in Romania.

 

[LadyRohan]

There are more and more royalists in favour of the Hohenzollerns but no important royalist group will publicly support Prince Karl until the King is still among us.

There is no evidence of this, and seeing what else the press, politicians and prominent Romanians have said about the King before, I doubt his being alive is a factor in whom they support. The facts are that there is no established support for any other faction than the Romanian Royal Family, which does not negate that there are individuals who feel differently.

As always however, it is a question of what is realistically possible. It seems to me the monarchists in Romania are aware of this, and support continuing the monarchy from the current Royal Family, to make sure the monarchy can be restored without having to establish a new Royal House, with the conflicts, discussions and debates that will undoubtedly include.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

That is my impression too. The royalists know the King has taken a cul-de-sac with his adventures regarding the succession, but are too polite to disagree with him, as long as it is all nothing more than theoretical free-wheeling.

 

[Cory]

Even if a lot of people would not accept some of the decisions taken by the Sovereign since 1996 very few will criticize him openly. Many prefer to criticize other members of the King's Family especially his son in law .

 

[LadyRohan]

Even if a lot of people would not accept some of the decisions taken by the Sovereign since 1996 very few will criticize him openly. Many prefer to criticize other members of the King's Family especially his son in law .

Eya is absolutely right. The attacks on Prince Radu are cheap, unkind and most often based of twisting facts and assuming knowledge of the thinking of another person. And in all fairness, they are usually done by the same, few people(s), who for some reason, find it fair to assault the character of someone who is warmly and strongly supporting his wife and the family he was married into.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

To be honest, Radu Duda has made himself an ideal target for attacks by all the controverses and the discutability surrounding his person. From the outlook it looks like Nicholas Medforth-Mills was "sent away" for having shady contacts or something but these were nothing, compared with the unclear and shady actions by uncle Radu.

The man has a good nose for PR and will never stop promoting the interests of the monarchy but he himself is not for nothing the ideal target for criticism.

 

[Cory]

Unfortunately this reality influences quite a lot the perception of the people about the King's Family.