Following the death of His Majesty King Michael of Romania, his oldest daughter, Crown Princess Margareta has been made Head of the House of Romania. This Saturday, the complete program for His Majesty’s funeral was published in a press release from Romanian Royal Court.
His Majesty King Michael’s coffin will arrive at Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport, Romania, on Wednesday, 13 December. The coffin will then be transported to Pelesh Castle. From 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, the King’s coffin will lie in state in the Hall of Honour at Pelesh Castle. During this time the President of Romania and Moldovia as well as members of the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, members of the Parliament of Romania and the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova will show their respect to the late King.
Pelesh Castle. Photo: Camil72 via Wikimedia Commons.
Members of the public will not have access to the Hall of Honour while the coffin lies in state at Pelesh Castle. At 6 pm on Wednesday, His Majesty’s coffin will be transported from Pelesh Castle to the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. The ceremony of the arrival of the coffin in the Throne Room will be private and only members of the Royal Family will have accesses.
The coffin will lie in state in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace until Saturday 16 December. At Saturday a short religious service will be held in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace. After this, the coffin will be laid on a catafalque in the Royal Palace Square, in front of the Palace. A military and religious ceremony will then be held. After the ceremony on the Square, the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage. The funeral cortege will include, apart from the Royal Family, servicemen and women from the Ministry of National Defence and representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church. As a sign of respect, the gun carriage will be pulled by an operational vehicle of the Romanian Armed Forces.
The Royal Palace “Palatul Regal” in Bucharest. Photo: Nicubunu via Wikimedia Commons.
The funeral cortege will walk from the Royal Palace Square to the Patriarchal Cathedral. Here a funeral mass will take place in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Romania. After the private funeral mass, the funeral cortege will travel to Băneasa Royal Railway Station. The Romanian Royal train will then transport His Majesty to Curtea de Argeş.
The last step of the funeral will take place at the New Episcopal and Royal Cathedral in Curtea de Argeș. This will also be a private ceremony where the public and the press are not allowed.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander greets His Majesty King Michael of Romania on an earlier occasion a few years ago. Behind the King is his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania. Photo: Royal Place Belgrade.
The Royal Family announced Saturday that they have started “heavy mourning” for the next 40 days and mourning for the first three months after the day of His Late Majesty’s passing.
If you wish to send your condolences to the Romanian Royal Family you can do so here.
Europe’s royal houses have sent their condolences to the Romanian Royal Family. Among them, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and the King and Queen of the Netherlands.
