Elisabeta Palace (Romanian: Palatul Elisabeta) is a palace on Kiseleff Road in Bucharest, Romania. Built in 1936, it is the official residence in Romania of Margareta of Romania, her husband Prince Radu, and her sister Princess Maria.
| Elisabeta Palace Palatul Elisabeta | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Moorish |
| Address | 26 Kiseleff Road Sector 1 |
| Town or city | Bucharest |
| Country |  Romania |
| Coordinates | 44°28′15″N 26°04′47″E / 44.470830°N 26.079720°E |
| Current tenants | Official Romanian Residence of the Romanian Royal Family |
| Construction started | 1930 |
| Completed | 1936 |
| Inaugurated | 19 December 1937 |
| Client | Princess Elisabeth of Romania |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Duiliu Marcu |
The Palace was designed in 1930 by the architect Duiliu Marcu and built in 1936 for Princess Elisabeth, the daughter of King Ferdinand I and his wife Queen Marie, and also the aunt of King Michael I, who was forced to abdicate on 30 December 1947.
In 2001, the Romanian Senate passed a bill awarding the Palace to the former king for use as a residence during his lifetime.[1] Since then, members of the former Royal Family have been living there. Foreign heads of state, royalty and politicians are received there, as well as Romanian political, cultural, economic and academic figures when special events are conducted.[2]
History
editIn July 1935, Princess Elisabeth, former Queen Consort of Greece, divorced her second cousin, the deposed King George II of Greece. After her divorce, she moved to Romania, where she stayed at Banloc Castle.[citation needed]
In 1930, the plans for Elisabeta Palace were made by Romanian architect Duiliu Marcu, who had designed Victoria Palace as well as many other buildings, but all building plans were brought to a halt in the early 1930s due to the Great Depression. Construction finally started in 1936, with the edifice inaugurated in December 1937.[citation needed]
For Elisabeth, the Palace was the achievement of a long elusive dream, heightened during the dearth years spent in Greece. In her memoirs, she wrote: "Perhaps the only thing that I really want is a house of my own something that I can call mine. It has always been my greatest longing since the age of 17. My house to create, to improve, to make perfect and love, offering hospitality to and rejoicing with all those who would love it too. I think the possession of a house would really make me happy. I lived on that hope when I came back to Romania".[citation needed]
The Palace was the official residence of Princess Elisabeth until 1944, when King Michael I performed his coup and overthrew the Nazi-supporting government. After the coup, he left Royal Palace of Bucharest, the official royal residence of the King of Romania, and moved into Elisabeta Palace with his mother to be directly in the centre of the capital; Princess Elisabeth had moved to Copăceni Castle.[citation needed]
On the evening of 30 December 1947, King Michael abdicated. Much later, he claimed that he was forced to do it at gunpoint, with the Palace surrounded by troops from the Tudor Vladimirescu Division, an army unit loyal to the Communists.[3]
Following King Michael's abdication and throughout the period of the "Socialist Republic of Romania", the Palace fell into disuse until 2001, when the former Royal Family returned to Romania after nearly five decades of exile. At that time, they were given official use of the Palace by a bill signed by Traian Băsescu, 4th President of Romania, and approved by the Romanian Senate.[4]
Present
editToday Elisabeta Palace is the working residence of Margareta of Romania and Prince Radu. It is also the Headquarters of Her Majesty's Household Association (Romanian: Asociația Casa Majestății Sale), an NGO recognised by the Government of Romania as 'an Organization of Public Utility' which supports the activities of the Royal Family.[5] Margareta's sisters also carry out engagements from the Elisabeta Palace when in Bucharest.
Margareta and the Royal Family frequently receive cultural and political leaders at the Elisabeta Palace who have included The President of Romania[6] and the Prime Minister[7][8][9][10][11] among many others. The Royal Family also receive foreign leaders at the Palace[12][13] as well as hosting receptions, investitures and dinners. An annual Garden Party is given by Margareta in the grounds of the Palace on 10 May to celebrate Monarchy Day.[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] In June 2021 the Royal Family held a Reception to mark 20 years since they returned to the Elisabeta Palace.[23][24]
From 2020 the Palace was opened to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday at certain points in the year between April and November for guided tours of the public rooms and grounds.[25]
Image gallery
edit-
The trilingual plaque at the main gate, briefly tells the story of the building. -
The dining room -
The personal flag of Crown Princess Margareta of Romania flying over the palace -
The garden
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Tomiuc, Eugen (8 April 2008). "Romania: Former Monarch Wins Restitution Claim". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
- ^ http://www.familiaregala.ro/resedinte/palatul-elisabeta [bare URL image file]
- ^ "Dezvaluiri". www.geocities.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ Tomiuc, Eugen (8 April 2008). "Romania: Former Monarch Wins Restitution Claim". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
- ^ "Website of Her Majesty's Household Association". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "President Iohannis visits the Royal Family at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Prime Minister Victor Ponta attends Dinner at Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Prime Minister Ludovic Orban calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș has dinner with Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "The President of the Czech Republic visits the Royal Family". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ The Court Circular 30th May 2018: "The Prince of Wales this evening called upon Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania at Elisabeta Palace", 30th March 2017: "His Royal Highness this evening called upon Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest", 30th May 2016: "The Prince of Wales called upon Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest", 20th May 2011: "The Prince of Wales later called upon The Crown Princess of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest."
- ^ "2019 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2018 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2017 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace and other Monarchy Day Events". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2015 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2014 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2013 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2012 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "2011 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ In 2016 the Garden Party was held at Peles Castle to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Dynasty, in 2020 it was cancelled due to the pandemic and in 2021 Monarchy Day was celebrated at Savarsin Castle
- ^ "Prince Radu: 20 years at Elisabeta Palace; we proved what the Romanian Crown is useful for". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Two decades at Elizabeth Palace". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Elisabeta Palace Royal Exhibition". Retrieved 20 August 2021.
External links
edit- Photo gallery
- Asociaţia Casa Majestăţii Sale Her Majesty's Household Association based at the Elisabeta Palace.
- Online Journal of the Romanian Royal Family Covering events held at the Elisabeta Palace