Death of Crown Prince Leka, aka Leka I, King of the Albanians - 30 November 2011

[Benjamin]

Leka Zogu buried with honors
3 Dec 2011

For more than two hours, hundreds of people paid homage at the hall of the Albanian Parliament, where was placed the coffin of the pretender of the Albanian Throne.

Zogu’s family received the condolences of the Albanian President, Bamir Topi, the President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, the Parliament Speaker, Jozefina Topalli, the Albanina PM, Sali Berisha, the Mayor of Tirana, Lulzim Basha, Socialist MPs and many Ministers, politicians, religious leaders and many people who had come from abroad.

The Mayor of Tirana, Lulzim Basha, declared that the Royal Family never became vassal to any other empire.

Full article: Top Channel
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Albania Holds Funeral for Self-Styled King Leka I
3 Dec 2011

The self-proclaimed heir to Albania's royal throne was buried on Saturday during a ceremony attended by the country's top leaders and broadcast live on national television.

Though a parliamentary republic, Albanian authorities held official ceremonies for the self-styled king -- who called himself Leka I Zogu -- at the Parliament building. They also declared Saturday a day of national mourning, with flags flying at and a minute of silence at noon.

Zogu, who returned home from exile to try to claim the throne himself, died Wednesday of a heart attack. He was 72.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.c.../#ixzz1fUOXeqz0

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Cory

Any foreign Royals at this funeral?

Unlikely, though in the past the Albanian Royal Family was quite close to the Spanish, Bulgarian, Saudi Arabian, Moroccan, and Iranian royal families.

[maria-olivia]

Why foreign royals at his wedding in Spain and no at his funerals ?
I wonder if royals assisted Queen Geraldine funerals ? Thanks for answer.

[Cory]

Photos of the funeral:

U.M.I. - Unione Monarchica Italiana - News

[Grandduchess24]

::::house of zogu crest:: I send my condolences to the house of zogu.

[Biri]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

Queen Geraldine was Catholic and Queen Suzani was Episcopalian, but Leka I and Leka II are Muslims as far as I know.

Leka II had King Baudoin as a godfather, so I suppose he is a Roman Catholic.

[Warren]

Crown Prince Pavlos is a godfather to Prince Christian of Denmark; that doesn't make him Greek Orthodox;
The Duke of Castro is a godfather to Princess Josephine of Denmark; that doesn't make her Roman Catholic.

According to Burke's Royal Families of the World Vol 1, when King Leka was 18 "he declared his adherence to the Moslem faith."

[maria-olivia]

Prince Laurent wanted Reza Pahlavi to be the godfather of his daughter Louise but he had to change his mind.
To stay in the thread I saw next to Prince Leka II a young lady in black..

[Cory]

Varroset Leka Zogu - YouTube

[maria-olivia]

Thanks for sharing Cory,
Who is the Official who pronounced the speech?
3 religions were represented , well done !

[Fürstin Taxis]

King Zog I. was Muslim. A woman doesn´t have to change her faith when she marries a Muslim. The children are muslims, because according to Islam they inherit it through the father (in Judaism through the mother). So I assume Leka and Leka jr. are muslims, too.

[Biri]

Originally Posted by Warren

Crown Prince Pavlos is a godfather to Prince Christian of Denmark; that doesn't make him Greek Orthodox;
The Duke of Castro is a godfather to Princess Josephine of Denmark; that doesn't make her Roman Catholic.

According to Burke's Royal Families of the World Vol 1, when King Leka was 18 "he declared his adherence to the Moslem faith."

But the fact Prince Leka had godfather at all, lets allows to suppose that he is a Christian; there are no godparents in Islam

[maria-olivia]

Instead of speaking about their religions , the 3 religions were represented, I read in Noblesse et Royautés much more important news.

The late King’s Son pronounced :

«Moi Leka II, je prête serment devant le corps de mon père, de suivre la route du Roi Zugu, du Roi Leka, pour être au service de la nation et de la patrie."

As it was already translated from Abanian to French I will not translate it in English

[Domhangairt]

I feel so sorry for Prince Leka. I live in South Africa. I remember when they lived in a modest small holding in Broadacres, Johannesburg. I remember seeing young Prince Leka who was then a boy riding his bycycle in the driveway. He must be one of the saddest young men in the World. He has lost his granny, his mother, and now his beloved father who was such a strong man. I hope that his fiance Elia Zaharia will give him the strength and support he desparately needs right now. There is no other close family really.

[Ruhije]

I am a new Royal Forum member and still struggling to master the sites links and procedures!
I am interested in Eastern European and Arab/Middle Eastern Royalty.
My particular interest and speciality is Albania's Royal House of Zogu.
I have done much private research over the past 20 years on the House of Zogu, and i am friends with extended members of the Zogu Royal Family.
Some of my research was used in the book - A Royal Exile (King Zog & Queen Geraldine of Albania : including wartime exile) by Author Neil Rees (2010).
In 2001 i met Teri Doshishti Cooper, niece of HM King Zog, and daughter of Princess Adile Doshishti Zogu.
In 2010 i met HRH Crown Prince Leka II Zogu and his fiancee Miss Elia Zaharia.
I would be interested to read other Zogists enthusiasts and specialists views and news, and am happy to contribute or help answer any interested enquiries on House of Zogu specifically, and Eastern European and Arab/Middle East Royalty in general.
Ruhije.

[Ruhije]

Yes, both HM King Leka I and HRH Crown Prince Leka II Zogu are Muslim, but very Westernised and with both Roman Catholic and Protestant relatives.
As a Muslim, King Leka's funeral had to be held very soon after death (usually within 2-3 days) and that would certainly have been the main reason for very few foreign Royals at the funeral.
Relatives of the extended Zogu Family came to Tirana at very short notice for the funeral from France, Turkey, as well as members of HM Queen Geraldine's extended Hungarian and French families.
Foreign Friends and supporters of the Albanian Royal Family arrived for the funeral from France, Belgium, UK, and all across Europe, and from as far as USA!
Ruhije - UK.

[CyrilVladisla]

No opposition leaders were present at the ceremony.
Erion Brace, an opposition lawmaker, said that Leka Zogu was never the king of Albania.