Nicholas Medforth-Mills (formerly His Royal Highness Prince Nicholas of Romania)

[LadyFinn]

"Both Prince Radu and I are very proud of Nicolae, who is like our spiritual son (...) The country hasn't adopted him much yet, but he already adopted Romania, even if he wasn't born here. And this is just wonderful," said Princess Margareta, at the official dinner offered at the Elisabeta Palace on the occasion of Prince Nicolae's 30th birthday.
In his turn, Prince Nicolae thanked Princess Margareta and Prince Radu, his "mentors", for supporting him in all his projects.
Princess Margareta, on Prince Nicolae's birthday We are very proud of him, he is our spiritual son – AGERPRES

[tommy100]

Personally I find it all a little odd the way they refer to him as their 'son', its pretty clear that the plan is for him to succeed after his eldest aunt but how will they get around his mother coming before him in the succession?
I like the family and Nicolae has done a brave thing taking on a role in a country he hasn't been brought up in so I have a lot of respect for him.

[Cris M]

I think his mother will rennounce her rights at some point in the future, something similar to what the mother of Prince Rainier III of Monaco did.

[LadyFinn]

Margarita said "like our spiritual son", I can very well understand that. During the last years Margarita has seen that Nicolae loves Romania like Margarita and Radu and wants to work for the people and country of Romania, like Margarita and Radu do. And their relationship seems very close, so I don't wonder at all that she used the term "spiritual son".

[Duc_et_Pair]

It is the same in the relationship of the current King of the Belgians with his late uncle and aunt, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. We may assume that he feels like "a spiritual son" of the late royal couple.

What struck me in the words of Princess Margarita was:
"The country hasn't adopted him much yet, but he already adopted Romania, even if he wasn't born here."

Does that mean that the Romanians have an ambivalent attitude towards "Prince Nicolae" who is, in essence, a British citizen born in Switzerland and now suddenly a Prince of Romania.

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

It is the same in the relationship of the current King of the Belgians with his late uncle and aunt, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola. We may assume that he feels like "a spiritual son" of the late royal couple.

What struck me in the words of Princess Margarita was:
"The country hasn't adopted him much yet, but he already adopted Romania, even if he wasn't born here."

Does that mean that the Romanians have an ambivalent attitude towards "Prince Nicolae" who is, in essence, a British citizen born in Switzerland and now suddenly a Prince of Romania.

That's interesting. I met a couple of times Romanians. When I asked about monarchy some didn't even know who is prince Nicolae, the others said they don't care.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Imagine the reverse situation: ask people in Blackburn, Leicester or Nottingham about a Swiss-born son from a Romanian becoming a British Prince... I think you would meet the same desinterest or not even knowing who you are talking about...




It is not that strange that the Romanians react like that on a Swiss-born son from a British father becoming a Romanian Prince.

[CSENYC]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

What a nice, well-dressed audience. It also looks smoothly organized, which is a compliment for a Royal House which is not funded with millions for its proper functioning. I see that Princess Margarita is always followed by uniformed aides-de-camp. They are wearing uniforms from the Romanian army or air force.

I wonder how that works? Are they volunteers from the army, doing some military ceremonial for persons whom are -legally- the same as every Romanian citizen? Or are they detached by the State of Romania into the service of Princess Margarita? Then it is even more remarkable...

Imagine that my country, the république française, would detach officiers from the Armée, the Marine, the Armée de l'Air or the Gendarmerie into the service of Prince Henri d'Orléans and his family. Impossible... However it looks like Romania does this or is my assumption wrong?

Wouldn't the Royal Family get government protection, since they are the family of a former head of state? In the US, former Presidents get government police protection, office expenses, etc., and since King Michael reigned, I'd think that he and his family would get those benefits.

Agreed re: being classy. It's so much classier than what we in the US have: heads of state who wear ill-fitting jeans, dine at cheap fast-food restaurants and the like, by choice.

[LadyFinn]

I think that crown princess Margarita just wanted to be careful: since Nicolae has lived in Romania just a few years and just learned the language, she didn't want to say something like "The Romanians have taken Nicolae to their hearts". Prince Nicolae has travelled a lot in Romania and met a lot of people and is doing a fine work, slowly but surely.

In the days of March 29th to April 4th 37 guests of Prince Nicolae from the UK, South Africa, USA, Australia, Greece and Denmark have visited Romania. University classmates, friends and collaborators from abroad and Romania.
On this occasion, HM House organized a new edition of the "Romania. A royal journey". 2015 edition included the cities of Bucharest, Sinaia and Sibiu. Prince Nicolae and the 37 guests visited these cities, some of them for the first time, getting information about the culture, architecture, hospitality and traditions of Romania.
România. O călătorie regală, 2015 Familia Regală a României Royal Family of Romania
Translation

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by CSENYC

Wouldn't the Royal Family get government protection, since they are the family of a former head of state? In the US, former Presidents get government police protection, office expenses, etc., and since King Michael reigned, I'd think that he and his family would get those benefits.

[...]

I would be surprised if that is the case. The King abdicated in 1947, which means that the King ended his kingship years before the current Queen of the United Kingdom started her long, long Reign...

There have been arrangements regarding the private wealth of the former royal family. King Michael started civil lawsuits for the return of former private properties. The Romanian Parliament voted to grant King Michael, as a former head of state, a permanent official housing provided by the State. This home is the so-called "Elisabeta Palace", which is more a large villa (build 1936 in art nouveau style). The villa was once build for Queen Elizabeth of the Hellenes born Princess of Romania.

As Queen Elizabeth had no direct descendants, as heir and successor of his aunt, King Michael would be entitled to claim her properties. However the King decided only to claim properties that have been in private possession before 1947. This means that "Elisabeta Palace" is still owned by the State of Romania and given in use to King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania born Princess de Bourbon de Parme. In 2001 the royal family was given back the Săvârşin royal domain - including mansion, outbuildings and a significant part of the forest that surrounds the town.

The royal family also was given back the royal domain of Sinaia which includes the stunning Castle of Peleș. Negotiations between the former king and the government of Romania have not concluded yet. The castle is on lease from the royal family to the Romanian state. I think the royal family is reluctant on what to do with the building. It costs an immense amount to maintain the enormous site with all that wooden timber.

But... apart from all this: who funds the use of military ceremonial? I would almost think there is an arrrangement indeed with the State of Romania.

Look at this: where do these guards come from? Volunteers?

[maria-olivia]

At the previous time King Michael was not rich at all , his daughters 's weddings were law key weddings.

As you Duke, I wonder where is the money coming from?
When Prince Lorenz came recently to a glittering Event , I am sure he had a bodyguard as a King's son in law and King's brother in law. He was then only foreign royal guest . Why??

[An Ard Ri]

Of all the former reigning Royal Houses The Romanian RF do a lot of entertaining and on a grand scale,I often wondered where they get the resources.

[LadyFinn]

Prince Nicolae's interview at L'Express/Point de Vue
Rencontre avec le prince Nicolas de Roumanie - L'Express Styles
Translation

[Lenora]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Prince Nicolae's interview at L'Express/Point de Vue
Rencontre avec le prince Nicolas de Roumanie - L'Express Styles
Translation

Quite interesting interview.

Prince seems sincere and appears to be fluent in some languages.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Of all the former reigning Royal Houses The Romanian RF do a lot of entertaining and on a grand scale,I often wondered where they get the resources.

The Romanian Royal Family has different properties (lands, residences) that allow the Family to organize different events.

[LadyFinn]

Prince Nicolae posted to his Facebook a link to a photo gallery of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Romania, photos from 20th-21st March.
"The first course leaders with Online Record Book Award (ORB)"
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...2246282&type=1

On Monday prince Nicolae attended at the start in Tîrgu-Mureș National Olympiad of Romanian language and literature. He spoke to the audience about the importance of preserving Romanian language and wished success for the in this phase qualified students.
A început la Tîrgu-Mureș Olimpiada națională de limba și literatura română - Radio Romania Targu Mures
Translation

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

At the previous time King Michael was not rich at all , his daughters 's weddings were law key weddings.

As you Duke, I wonder where is the money coming from?
When Prince Lorenz came recently to a glittering Event , I am sure he had a bodyguard as a King's son in law and King's brother in law. He was then only foreign royal guest . Why??

The King has been given Elisabeta Palace at his disposal, so he lives for free. In 2001 Săvârșin Castle and the domain were returned to King Michael. In 2008 the large domain of Sinaia including Peleș Castle and Pelișor Castle were returned to the King. The last two castles are given in use to the State of Romania and as a museum. I think the King is financially compensated for that. For the rest he will have income from rents paid by the tenants living and working on his domains. So I guess the King and his family are no longer "poor".

[Andy T]

Can anyone clarify if the Elisabeta Palace has been placed at his disposal for his lifetime only (as a former head of state) or is it for his heirs and successors as well?
Thanks,
Andy

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by Andy T

Can anyone clarify if the Elisabeta Palace has been placed at his disposal for his lifetime only (as a former head of state) or is it for his heirs and successors as well?
Thanks,
Andy

King Michael writes at the "Fundamental Rules Of The Royal Family Of Romania" on 30th December 2007:
At present, the Elisabeth Palace is the official residence of the King and his family during his lifetime.
Decisions regarding the royal residences can be revoked or changed by the Head of the family at any time.
http://www.familiaregala.ro/uploads/...entalRules.pdf

I haven't found yet if there has been made changes to this.

[Benjamin]

According to the following article, King Michael, Queen Anne, Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu were to have lifetime rights to use Elisabeta Palace per a bill that was being discussed in the Romanian Parliament at the time (in 2005).

Romania: Former Monarch Wins Restitution Claim