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Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession Prince Nicholas, Romanian royal with the common touch, cut from succession
(about 2 hours later)
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. 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 is 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.
But this week, 94-year-old King Michael suggested that his 30 year-old grandson was not up to royal standards, formally cutting him out from the line of succession. But this week, 94-year-old King Michael suggested that his 30-year-old grandson was not up to royal standards, formally cutting him out of the line of succession.
“(The King thinks) Romania will need a head of the family who is dignified, moral, thinks of others and is hardworking, respecting the principles of the family,” Ioan Luca Vlad, spokesman for the royal family, said. “[The King thinks] Romania will need a head of the family who is dignified, moral, thinks of others and is hardworking, respecting the principles of the family,” said the royal family’s spokesman, Ioan Luca Vlad.
“At this point in time he believes that it is best if Nicholas continues to follow his own dreams outside of Romania, outside the line of succession and outside of the royal family.”“At this point in time he believes that it is best if Nicholas continues to follow his own dreams outside of Romania, outside the line of succession and outside of the royal family.”
The decision set off speculation in Romania and beyond about what had gone wrong. Swiss-born, British-raised Nicholas had only formally been named third-in-line to the throne five years earlier, when he moved to Romania to take up the unofficial role.The decision set off speculation in Romania and beyond about what had gone wrong. Swiss-born, British-raised Nicholas had only formally been named third-in-line to the throne five years earlier, when he moved to Romania to take up the unofficial role.
The King had already cut one daughter, Irina, out of the line of succession after she pleaded guilty to helping run a cockfighting business in Oregon with her husband last year.The King had already cut one daughter, Irina, out of the line of succession after she pleaded guilty to helping run a cockfighting business in Oregon with her husband last year.
Vlad said this case was different because Nicholas was not being punished for any misdeeds. “It is a preventative move, that stops this distinction between what he (Nicholas) wants and what the royal family is, from blowing up into something that would be irreparable,” Vlad said. “It was a decision taken in harmony.” Vlad said this case was different because Nicholas was not being punished for any misdeeds. “It is a preventive move, that stops this distinction between what he [Nicholas] wants and what the royal family is, from blowing up into something that would be irreparable,” Vlad said. “It was a decision taken in harmony.”
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.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.
He has 23,000 likes on his Facebook page, topped by a photo of him with a mountain bike in beautiful mountain scenery, apparently on a 1,000km fundraising trip he made in April from Transylvania to the Black Sea port of Constanta.He has 23,000 likes on his Facebook page, topped by a photo of him with a mountain bike in beautiful mountain scenery, apparently on a 1,000km fundraising trip he made in April from Transylvania to the Black Sea port of Constanta.
On Tuesday, Nicholas – who will now be known simply as Nicholas Medford-Mills, his father’s last name – said he supported his grandfather’s decision and welcomed the chance to fade back into a life of anonymity. “I find the lifestyle and rigours of being a prince of Romania too heavy for me so I will continue to pursue my activities outside of Romania,” the statement said.On Tuesday, Nicholas – who will now be known simply as Nicholas Medford-Mills, his father’s last name – said he supported his grandfather’s decision and welcomed the chance to fade back into a life of anonymity. “I find the lifestyle and rigours of being a prince of Romania too heavy for me so I will continue to pursue my activities outside of Romania,” the statement said.
Perhaps in a prelude to his departure from royal life, Nicholas had earlier this year moved out of the Elisabeta palace, which was also home to his grandfather, his aunt – Crown Princess Margaret – and her husband Radu Duda. He took an apartment in a district 15 minutes drive away, near a park where he could walk his Jack Russell. Perhaps in a prelude to his departure from royal life, Nicholas had earlier this year moved out of the Elisabeta palace, which was also home to his grandfather, his aunt – Crown Princess Margaret – and her husband, Radu Duda. He took an apartment in a district 15 minutes drive away, near a park where he could walk his Jack Russell terrier.
Although the family have no official position in modern Romania, they have taken on some roles similar to royals in other European countries, working with charities, representing the country informally and sometimes dabbling in politics.Although the family have no official position in modern Romania, they have taken on some roles similar to royals in other European countries, working with charities, representing the country informally and sometimes dabbling in politics.
His grandfather first took the throne more than 80 years ago as a child, and played a key role in overthrowing Romania’s fascist dictator Ion Antonescu in 1944, but abdicated and left the country three years later. He said the Communist government blackmailed him to step down, threatening to kill more than 1,000 imprisoned students if he did not leave. His grandfather first took the throne more than 80 years ago as a child, and played a key role in overthrowing Romania’s fascist dictator Ion Antonescu in 1944, but abdicated and left the country three years later. He said the communist government blackmailed him to step down, threatening to kill more than 1,000 imprisoned students if he did not leave.
He would not return for over 40 years, when his popularity alarmed the government and he was effectively barred again. But in the 1990s he won back his citizenship and in 2001 the government granted him the same rights as all other former heads of state – including an official residence with staff and security, a car and chauffeur and a living allowance.He would not return for over 40 years, when his popularity alarmed the government and he was effectively barred again. But in the 1990s he won back his citizenship and in 2001 the government granted him the same rights as all other former heads of state – including an official residence with staff and security, a car and chauffeur and a living allowance.
On his 90th birthday, the king made his first speech to parliament in over six decades, calling for cleaner politics and a shifting of the guard. “The time has come... to finally break with the bad habits of the past,” Michael said, adding there should be an end to “demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power”. On his 90th birthday, the king made his first speech to parliament in over six decades, calling for cleaner politics and a shifting of the guard. “The time has come ... to finally break with the bad habits of the past,” Michael said, adding there should be an end to “demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power”.