Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine hosted an event this weekend at the White Palace in Belgrade that boasted “24 hours of Elegance”. Here the finest in motor vehicles, high fashion and fine art, which epitomises elegance and style to say nothing of the superb artisanship of the most prestigious of brands. Guest of honour this year was Princess Olga Romanoff, one of the last descendants of the Russian Imperial Family.
As part of the celebration now in its eighth year, there was an exhibition of classic cars, and this was run in association with Serbian Federation of Historic Vehicles. The theme of this year’s “Master of Elegance” exhibition celebrated the fine craftsmen from across the Adriatic Sea – the Neapolitan masters of elegance such as Sartoria Panico headed by Antonio PANICO, the iconic bespoke tailor from Naples, superb bespoke shoemakers DUCAL of Florence, famous shirtmakers MAROL from Bologna, renowned cloth makers DRAGO from Biella, Italy.
Photo: Royal Palace Belgrade
Since 2016, the celebration has included fine arts with the kind assistance of Nesovic Fine Arts Gallery celebrating the best of art from South East Europe that has originated from Belgrade. The HRH Crown Princess Katherine Humanitarian Foundation also benefited from the sale of a work by world-renowned artist Vuk Vidor.
The White Palace was built in the grounds of the Royal Palace by King Alexander I in the early 1930s as a residence for his three sons, Crown Prince Peter, Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej. The assassination of King Alexander in Marseille in 1934 caused a change of plan. The house became the home of the late King’s Uncle HRH Prince Regent Paul and his family. He was regent for King Peter II (father of Crown Prince Alexander) until his majority.
The Palace was decorated in styles from all over Western Europe, with drawing rooms furnished in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI from France, the finest Venetian chandeliers and formal Chippendale dining room very much in the English style. Just like the exhibition it now hosts, the Palace was built and fitted out to the highest standards of elegance and from the King’s personal funds.
