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European RoyalsRomania

King Michael to receive a state funeral

His Late Majesty King Michael I of Romania is to receive a state funeral at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania.

The Romanian government has said that they will organise a state funeral “according to his rank and merits,” the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis said on Monday.

Crown Princess Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, has said that the funeral will “respect the tradition of His Late Majesty’s predecessors.” The details of the funeral are expected to be released later today.

He will be buried in the New Royal and Episcopal Cathedral of Curtea de Arges on 16 December.

His body, which will arrive back in Romania on 13 December, will lie in state in the Hall of Honour of Pelesh Castle. For two days, it will lie in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Bucharest.

Books of condolence have been opened at Pelesh Castle, the Royal Palace and Elisabeta Palace for the next 40 days. Condolences can also be sent online at www.familiaregala.ro/mesaje/. Those wishing to lay flowers in memory of the late monarch can do so at the Royal Palace in Calea Victoriei.

King Michael, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer, died at the age of 96 in Switzerland on Monday, 5 December at noon local time in Geneva.

Princess Maria, The King’s youngest daughter, was at his bedside when he died.

King Michael had been in ill health for some time and suffered from chronic leukaemia and epidermoid carcinoma. In early November 2017, Elisabeta Palace announced that the King’s “general state of health has worsened considerably.” They added that the Romanian Royal Family would be in discussions with his doctors regarding advice for going forward.

In August 2016, his wife, Queen Anne died at the age of 92. The couple had been married for 68 years, but due to his ill health, the King was unable to travel back to Romania for her funeral.

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.

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