By Lucas Szkopinski
The Ancestors
The current Royal House of Albania was founded by Zogu the Great, who lived in the village of Zogaj in 15th century. Albania was under the Ottoman occupation at that period and Zogu, after moving to the region of Mati, devoted the rest of his life to the fight for liberation of his homeland. His son, Zogu the Small, continued the mission and he was granted the hereditary title of Governor of Mati by the Ottomans, who tried to appease him that way. However, that turned out not to be an efficient tactic as Zogu’s descendants never abandoned their dream of an independent Albania.
Ahmet Zogu was born in 1895. He was about sixteen years old when his father, Xhemal Pasha, died. Ahmed succeeded him as the Governor of Mati but that proved to be just a very beginning of a brilliant career. Albania became an independent principality in 1912. However, the new Prince, Wilhelm zu Wied, who arrived to his new homeland in 1914, soon realized his incapacity to rule the country with its political turmoil and never-ending rifts. After only six months, he left Albania forever. In the meantime, young Ahmet, educated in Constantinople and Vienna, returned to his country after being forced by the Austrian authorities to remain in Vienna during the last two years of the First World War. In 1920, he became Interior Minister of Albania and two years later he obtained the post of Prime Minister. In January 1925, after the ephemeral Monarchy was formally abolished, Ahmet Zogu was declared the first Albanian President. The supreme moment of his life fell on 1st September 1928. On that day, the National Assembly proclaimed him the King of the Albanians.
Although not exactly without reason was his regime called authoritarian, the King was a very efficient ruler who laid foundations under what one could call the modern Albania1. In 1938, Zog married Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Appony. The couple’s only child, Leka (diminutive form of Alexander) was born on 5th April 1939. He spent only three days in the country he was to rule. Italian invasion of Albania was imminent and on 7th April it was decided that the Queen and the Crown Prince should leave the country immediately. King Zog soon joined his wife and son. The terrible time of exile started.
After a long journey, the family reached France but they had to flee to England to escape the Nazi occupation. The People’s Republic of Albania was proclaimed in 1946 and the Royal Family moved to Egypt upon the invitation of King Farouk. Unfortunately, it was not to be the last step of their wanderings. The Egyptian Monarchy was abolished in 1953 and two years later the family left for Cannes. King Zog was already extremely ill and he passed away in Paris in 1961.
Six days after Zog’s death, on 15th April 1961, the Albanian National Assembly in exile proclaimed Leka the new King of the Albanians. Leka went to school in Alexandria and Switzerland. Later, he received a military training at Sandhurst and studied at the Sorbonne. One year after the accession, King Leka and Queen Geraldine moved to Madrid. In 1973, Leka met and fell in love with an Australian, Susan Cullen-Ward. The couple married on 8th October 1975 in a civil ceremony in Biarritz. The wedding reception in Toledo, two days later, gathered members of various Royal Families to wish the newlyweds a happy life together. Among the most prominent guests were: Queen Farida of Egypt, Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians, Grand Duke Wladimir and Grand Duchess Leonida of Russia as well as their daughter, Maria, the Duke and Duchess of C⥩z, Prince Nicholas of Romania, Prince and Princess Michel d’Orlꢮs.
Once again during the many years of exile, the stability was not to last. In 1979, Leka and Susan left Spain. They first flew to Rhodesia and soon afterwards they settled in South Africa.
Leka II: Prince of the Sons of Eagle
The Prince of the Albanians was born on 26th March 1982 in Johannesburg. King Leka made sure that his son would receive a proper, patriotic upbringing and a special, private tutor was engaged to teach the young pupil the language, history and customs of his country. Very soon the boy became fluent in Albanian and English, the native language of his mother. He also learned some French and Zulu, the latter being an effect of King Leka’s friendship with Goodwill Zwelethini, King of the Zulus, and his family. Later, the Prince attended St Peter’s College in Johannesburg.
A very close relationship with his father had a great influence on the “royal” part of the boy’s education. “He was educated in the Western way and also according to the Albanian traditions. The fighting spirit of his father has had a positive influence on him. The fact that his childhood and young student days were quite difficult times has forged his character. However, he never missed his parents’ love and attention.”2 recalls Mr Skender Zogu, son of Prince Xhelal and thus King Zog’s nephew and King Leka’s first cousin.
Young Leka seemed to have taken after the best parts from his parents and grandparents. Mr Skender Zogu continues: “I would say that the Prince has benefited from his grandfather’s and father’s patriotic spirit, the generosity of his grandmother, Queen Geraldine, the disciplined life of his mother, Queen Susan, and the friendly relations with Mr and Mrs Cullen Ward, his grandparents in Australia.”
On 28th June 2002, the Royal Family finally returned to Albania and settled down for good in their homeland. Unfortunately, the first years of the Prince’s new life were marked by a series of great losses. Only four months after coming home, Queen Geraldine passed away. Two years later, on 17th July 2004, Prince Leka’s beloved mother, Queen Susan, lost her final battle with the lung cancer.
Some big changes also happened as far as Leka’s education was concerned. In 2004, he went through a training at Scanderbeg Military Academy in Tirana and, the next year, he was enrolled to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He later studied at the University of Perugia, Italy. Currently the Prince continues his studies in Albania. On 18th August 2007, Leka became advisor to the Foreign Minister, the position he still holds today and which he takes very seriously.
Mr Skender Zogu, asked about what the Prince is like in day to day life, says that he is “a very modern, open minded person who listens to people who have problems. He has many young friends and enjoys the local music in their company. The Prince is very respectful of Albanian traditions (hospitality, generosity, sense of duty). In fact, he is quite reserved, but bears all these high qualities. When visiting places, he acts as a true citizen and shakes hands with all those who approach him.”
The Prince is not, and he cannot be, just like other young people of his generation due to his royal heritage, which is very important for him. “As the heir of the House he does serve as the image of Albania in and out of his country. The authorities recognize his title and refer to him as Prince. He is quite familiar with the long sufferings of his people and he searches among his foreign relations for investors to develop the country’s many tourist resorts.” says Skender Zogu.
Dr Patrice Najbor, author of the five-volume book entitled “Histoire de l’Albanie et de sa Maison Royale 1443-2007″3, adds that “the Prince is a simple and discreet person. He doesn’t bother with the protocol and he is easily accessible. The Prince is very kind. He is always ready to hear others and he loves to talk to them despite his being of a reserved nature. He is open to the dialogue and tries to help around. The Prince is very active. Outside his responsibilities concerning the Albanian diplomacy, he strongly developed the activities of the Royal Family. For example, he works very hard promoting the Royal University of Prishtina, the University for which the Royal Family funds schooling grants. He also opened the Royal Court representations in Kosovo and Macedonia. He likes participating in various cultural and humanitarian activities. To resume, he is an engaged prince, who is at the disposal of his people.”4
It is impossible to say what the future of the Albanian Royal Family will be, but whatever happens, one thing remains sure: Prince Leka will do his best to confront the reality and do what he is supposed to do with energy and a lot of new ideas. As Skender Zogu concludes: “Through his family education and studies he has built up a very strong personality which not only serves the image of the Royal Family but also helps the outside world to positively discover the land of eagles, Albania.” Dr Patrice Najbor underlines that “the Prince was brought up according to Albanian traditions. Very early he did realize what were his responsibilities and that maturity and even more the serenity come with the age. He knows his obligations and knows that he should incarnate the hope of his people. The Prince was prepared for that and refines his experience. If tomorrow the Albanians opt for the restoration of the Monarchy, he will be ready to assume his role.”
Interview with HRH The Prince of the Albanians
Your Royal Highness bears five names: Leka, Anwar, Zog, Reza, Baudouin. While Leka and Zog are names of your father and grandfather, the other three were chosen to honour President Sadat, the late Shah of Iran and King Baudouin of the Belgians. Could you explain their associations with your family?
The names were chosen to honor my father’s friendships, with President Anwar Sadat, with whom my father kept a very close relationship, as he was a supporter of the Albanian Nation and with the Shah who helped my father in his first steps as a young entrepreneur and we maintain a friendship with their families. King Baudouin was my Godfather, or better said my name father, who in Albanian tradition was the first person who cut my hair, in a symbolic gesture.
You were born in South Africa where you lived until 2002. What was the influence of this country and its culture on your life?
I was born in Sandton Clinic, Johannesburg, officially on Albanian territory, after the South African authorities declared my hospital room Albanian territory for twenty four hours. I was educated during a period of transition in South Africa. The fall of the Apartheid regime and the birth of democracy had, without a doubt, a profound influence on me. Contact with a wide range of cultural identities within the African Society has helped me expand my horizons, and understand the rudimentary problems within a developing society.
How did you manage to maintain contact with the Albanian language and culture throughout all that time?
I was brought up first and primarily within an Albanian household, maintaining Albanian moral values and traditions, but through my father’s continued political activities, we maintained contact with the Albanian Diaspora.
Your grandmother, Queen Geraldine, spent many years with you and your parents in South Africa. What was her influence on your upbringing?
My grandmother was an incredible person, extremely intelligent, and a loving grandmother. I remember sitting beside her bed whilst she told me her childhood stories and her adventures with my Grandfather, King Zog. My grandmother always made sure that I was provided with the best education and insisted that I travel. Above all she taught me how to be of service to my Nation.
How do you recall your coming to Albania for the first time in June 2002?
It was incredible, with over five thousand people cheering the return of the family, and finally landing in Albania, which for so many years was more a dream than a reality. It will remain one of the most important moments in my life!
How did you spend the first years in Albania?
Fulfilling my education, whilst remaining active with continuous travels throughout the country, which I continue even today, involving myself in social and cultural activities.
In August 2007, you became advisor to the Foreign Minister. Could you say a few words about your work. Doesn’t it interfere with your royal obligations?
I consider it as another example of the Royal family’s contribution, whilst working within a public administration, getting to know the problems and finding solutions in one of the most incredible periods of Albania’s history. Being at the forefront of Albania gaining the NATO invitation and the historical moment of Kosovo’s declaration of independence, a wealth of information. It is an honor for me to represent my nation on the world stage, as Crown Prince, making sure that I am prepared for my future duties as heir to the throne.
Heir Apparent to the Albanian throne certainly is a very special position and a great responsibility. It gives a lot of privileges but also causes many limitations. How has it been in your case?
It is a responsibility that I have taken up, understanding all too well the difficulties and sacrifice. My desire to work for the Albanian nation is without reserve.
The author would like to express his deepest gratitude to HRH Prince Leka II of the Albanians for his extremely kind cooperation as well as to Mr Skender Zogu and Dr Patrice Najbor for their help,support and friendship.
1 On 1st September 2008 an international scientific conference “The Albanian Monarchy 1928-1939” was held in Tirana to celebrate the 80th anniversary of King Zog’s accession to the throne. It was attended, amongst others, by the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports of Albania, Mr Ylli Pango, and Prince Leka, who acted as the official representative of the Royal Family.
2 Private communication with Mr Skender Zogu.
3. For more information about this reference book, you can visit: http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor.htm
4 Private communication with Dr Patrice Najbor.
