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

[Jacknch]

Originally Posted by Royalotta

Whatever the truth (and I doubt we'll ever find out what really occurred here), in recent years the Romanian people seemed to be warming to the idea of constitutional monarchy and to the proposed incumbents. Now the King has shattered that with one signature. And frankly, I think it's tainted his legacy.

I confess to having similar thoughts on and off since we heard this news - it worries me that the decision was made too quickly and needn't have been at all.

By all accounts, Nicolae's interests - personally and outside Romania - did not seem to affect the way people thought about him, there was no imminent restoration of the monarchy that would require his having to give up such interests and spend more time doing royal-related duties. I can't see why he could not have carried on as he was for a few more years and step things up when Michael died - or indeed until Margarita got older and needed more help.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

If you read any of the informations posted about this development, you will learn that Nicholas had nothing to do with the loss of his title and style.

The King, with the aide of a Royal Council and in the presence of his eldest daughter and son-in-law who were visiting him in Switzerland, made the decision to remove the popular Nicholas from the line of succession.

Nicholas was travelling and was neither in Switzerland or Romania at the time.

It is very well possible that Mr Nicholas Medforth-Mills has written a formal letter to his grandfather, respectfully telling him all his considerations and conclusions. Maybe he already did it months ago. His grandfather keeping him floating, hoping that he would re-find enthusiasm. Maybe finally the King realized that his grandson was serious. Then the King requested his Heir and her spouse and a Council discussing the matter and finally made the decision.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

It is very well possible that Mr Nicholas Medforth-Mills has written a very formal letter to his grandfather, respectfully telling him all his considerations and conclusions. Maybe he already did it months ago. His grandfather keeping him floating, hoping that he would re-find enthusiasm. Maybe finally the King realized that his grandson was serious. Then the King requested his Heir and her spouse and a Council discussing the matter and finally made the decision.

An attorney for the Royal Family, who is also a member of this Council, confirmed yesterday that Nicholas did not request this.

You can also read that same information in the statement that has been posted on the website of the Royal House in the name of Nicholas.

[LadyFinn]

Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession
Rumours of intrigue circulate after King Michael removes popular grandson from line to the throne, saying nation needs someone ‘dignified and moral’
Prince Nicholas of Romania had seemed an ideal heir to a monarchy fighting to carve out a niche in a modern republic. Charming and handsome, he was a committed environmentalist, enthusiastic sportsman and keen supporter of children’s charities. He had even moved out of the palace because he was fed up that pizza firms wouldn’t deliver to him there.
Some Romanians speculated that a jealous relative had sought to edge Nicholas out of the succession, the Associated Press reported, but the change in the line of succession – which could be reversed by King Michael’s heir – seems only to have made him more popular.
Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession _ World news _ The Guardian

[Duc_et_Pair]

Press Communiqué from Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills:

August 11, 2015
The Press Office of His Majesty King Michael I is authorized to transmit the following statement:

On Sunday, August 1, 2015, His Majesty King Mihai I, my grandfather, decided to withdraw my title of Prince of Romania and my place in the line of succession to the Crown of Romania. This decision comes from a period in which we reflected on the future of the country and our House, and the role that I could play in this.

The important position and presence in the line of succession to the Crown of Romania imposed a way of life that leads me finding it difficult to accept. Therefore, with much heartache, I consider that the decision made by His Majesty The King is welcome to me. In the future I will seek to serve my ideals and principles in other wise.

I would like to thank all those who, in the years when I was in the middle of the Romanians, gave me confidence, support and their hope, and who offered their help for initiatives dedicated to the advancement of Romania. In my new circumstances, I will seek to dedicate myself further into ecological activities, youth and charities, which I learned so much while I was in Romania.

I would also like to thank the central and local authorities for the openness with which they have given to support joint projects, and especially my family for the love and understanding that surrounded me here.

I hope that God will protect the future of the Romanian nation and the Crown.

Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth Michael Mills

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

An attorney for the Royal Family, who is also a member of this Council, confirmed yesterday that Nicholas did not request this.

You can also read that same information in the statement that has been posted on the website of the Royal House in the name of Nicholas.

Funny, in that very same statement I can see he requested it.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Funny, in that very same statement I can see he requested it.

Thank you for translating it--I do not speak Romanian and thus had to rely on an online translator.

It does make clear that this was the decision of the King and it does not explicitly state that Nicholas requested it--only that he accepts the will of his grandfather (presuming his grandfather actually would have made this move were not certain forces influencing him).

[Debbies]

Originally Posted by Benjamin

The 94 year old King is apparently acting under the advice of a "Crown Council" that no one had heard about until this took place.

FOTO Ziua excluderii Principelui Nicolae. Cine au fost sfatuitorii Regelui Mihai si ce cauta acolo Mihnea Constantinescu, fost consilier pe langa patru premieri - Esential - HotNews.ro

Thanks for this, I used google translation in Italian and this website has a few interesting articles on the subject - including this one of the difficulties for the prince to order a pizza while living at Palace Elisabeta as the pizza delivery guys would not believe him, restrictions on his life and another article mentioning "trade activities" that he would be now free to pursue...
https://translate.googleusercontent....lhPf9dMn_ZzifA

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession
Rumours of intrigue circulate after King Michael removes popular grandson from line to the throne, saying nation needs someone ‘dignified and moral’
Prince Nicholas of Romania had seemed an ideal heir to a monarchy fighting to carve out a niche in a modern republic. Charming and handsome, he was a committed environmentalist, enthusiastic sportsman and keen supporter of children’s charities. He had even moved out of the palace because he was fed up that pizza firms wouldn’t deliver to him there.
Some Romanians speculated that a jealous relative had sought to edge Nicholas out of the succession, the Associated Press reported, but the change in the line of succession – which could be reversed by King Michael’s heir – seems only to have made him more popular.
Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession _ World news _ The Guardian

Interesting--sounds like he was very modest indeed, well-thought and with good moral principles.

Best of luck to His Royal Highness in his future ventures.

Once a prince, always a prince!

[Jacknch]

Having checked out the translation myself of Nicolae's statement, it seems to me that Nicolae and the family discussed the situation, Nicolae was not prepared to change his current lifestyle and interests and so the king made the decision on that basis...

This decision, which I assume it comes from a period in which we reflected on the country's future and our homes, and the role that I can play

[LadyFinn]

Monarchists turn against King Mihai

Nicholas enjoys much more sympathy among royalists than Prince Radu Duda, who joined the royal family by marrying Crown Princess Margareta, eldest daughter of King Michael. "Personally, I think this is a hasty decision, not at all favorable to the Royal House of Romania and the idea of ​​monarchy, and finally, one that will attract more negative criticism against Radu Duda, given that most supporters don't have a high opinion of him", said Dan Marcu, a founding member of the Club of liberal bloggers, an NGO whose members are among the most ardent supporters of the monarchy of King Michael I.
Another royalist, Marius Ghilezan, writer and journalist, believes the former Prince Nicholas was the victim of a plot. "From victim, Nicholas can get to a hero. Today, all Romanian homes speak about the unjust fate of the young charismatic man with royal blood", says Ghilezan, which has a message in English to the former prince. "Come back, Nicholas, as soon as Possible".
Bogdan Duca, a member of many clubs and liberal monarchist, is vehement: "Removing Nicholas from the list of succession - the most popular member of the family of the King, ends any hopes that the royal family can manage not only with personal image problems, but even with the issue of restoration ".
Principele Nicolae a abdicat_ ce se întâmplă cu averea. Monarhiştii se întorc împotriva Regelui Mihai _ adevarul.ro
Translation

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

It is very well possible that Mr Nicholas Medforth-Mills has written a formal letter to his grandfather, respectfully telling him all his considerations and conclusions. Maybe he already did it months ago. His grandfather keeping him floating, hoping that he would re-find enthusiasm. Maybe finally the King realized that his grandson was serious. Then the King requested his Heir and her spouse and a Council discussing the matter and finally made the decision.

Nicholas didn't ask to be removed of his title
From the blog which link MarleneKoenig kindly posted here, she had got the information from the Royal family advisor Ioan-Luca Vlad, the member of the Royal Council.
"The decision opens the way for Nicholas to pursue his goals in a private capacity. It was not requested by him, but he does not oppose it."
Royal Musings_ More on King Michael's decision.

[MarleneKoenig]

Originally Posted by Jacknch

Having checked out the translation myself of Nicolae's statement, it seems to me that Nicolae and the family discussed the situation, Nicolae was not prepared to change his current lifestyle and interests and so the king made the decision on that basis...

Nicholas did not meet with the King. Royal Musings: More on King Michael's decision.

and a proper translation of the statement Royal Musings: The statement of Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills

[Jacknch]

Originally Posted by MarleneKoenig

Nicholas did not meet with the King. Royal Musings: More on King Michael's decision.

and a proper translation of the statement Royal Musings: The statement of Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills

I hate google translate! Thanks for setting the record straight.

[MarleneKoenig]

Let's clarify one thing: Nicholas is not gay. I have been told the King made the right decision. Something happened ... and no one is talking.

Originally Posted by fearghas

I don't think so. I think in terms of PR and the future of monarchy that this decision is disastrous and spells the end of any future restoration. The King has basically said that Nicholas has let him down and now he should bugger off. I can well imagine people thinking, " well we liked Nicholas, he seemed to be doing a great job but now you don't want him so why should we want you."
After reading through all the posts here, the newspaper articles and Marlenes blog personally I feel that there is something in Nicholas private life that the King feels is not worthy of the role of Monarchy in Roumania. Homosexuality would fit that, though that is pure speculation.
I also feel that there is no real chance of the Royal family continuing in the future. Why should the people of the country take the risk of trying yet another grandchild of the king when that person could also be take away from them. Also as far as I can tell no other grandchild has shown the slightest interest in the country
I am very disappointed with this decision and can only hope that Nicholas finds happiness and fulfilment elsewhere.

[Ish]

Originally Posted by MarleneKoenig

Let's clarify one thing: Nicholas is not gay. I have been told the King made the right decision. Something happened ... and no one is talking.

Do you at this time know what it is that happened or if/when such a time it will be known by the public (if you do know, I don't expect you to share it if you're not at liberty to do so).

That said, if you don't know what it is, can you say if even not knowing what the cause of this is, you believe the King is justified in his actions?

I tend to take what you have to say on matters such as this rather definitively as I know you're a valued source of information.

[LadyFinn]

Even if the decision would be right, the royal family handled the matter very poorly. They should have published Nicholas' statement yesterday at the same time with the King's statement. Then this whole thing wouldn't have looked so odd.
It was not good that they published the King's statement and then the advisor of the family talked very much with the press, even about the future of Nicholas. And only today they published Nicholas' statement.
And it would have of course been nice, if the decision would have made so that Nicholas had been present, and it would have been told him personally face to face.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Jacknch

Having checked out the translation myself of Nicolae's statement, it seems to me that Nicolae and the family discussed the situation, Nicolae was not prepared to change his current lifestyle and interests and so the king made the decision on that basis...

Indeed: "The important position and presence in the line of succession to the Crown of Romania imposed a way of life that leads me finding it difficult to accept. Therefore, with much heartache, I consider that the decision made by His Majesty The King is welcome to me. In the future I will seek to serve my ideals and principles in other wise."

[Duc_et_Pair]

The monarchist "supporters" criticize the King because he removed a "popular" member of the royal family. I think that is not the point, whether Nicholas was popular or not. The criticism should be the complete arbitrariness of the whole succession, modelled on the mood of the day so it seems.

A monarchy usually holds itself as an ultimate safeguard of law. Not only has King Michael shoved aside the very same law his very own kingship was based upon (the last democratic royal Constitution of Romania), he also shoved away the 1884 Statute of the House of Hohenzollern concerning the succession. But with what were these fundamental rules replaced? With daily whims of the King who rücksichtlos removed his third daughter because there was something with a cockfight? Who simply removed his grandson for misty reasons? Is that a sign, a proof to the Romanians, that their interests and that of the State are in good hands under a monarch?

http://www.romaniajournal.ro/prince-...-prince-title/

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MarleneKoenig

I have been told the King made the right decision. Something happened ... and no one is talking.

That would seem to contradict the claim that the decision is not a punishment.

[wyevale]

It is a rare occasion when I agree with Duc et Pair, but this time I do..

It is as tho' Queen Elizabeth II could arbitrarily remove the Duke of Cambridge from the succession. She CANNOT, because the succession is laid down by law, and not governed by the whim or will of ANY individual.