Romania’s royal family said Friday they were grieving for Britain’s Prince Philip as a „father figure” and friend of the late King Michael.
The late Romanian king was a second cousin of Philip. Philip was born on the Greek island of Corfu but went into exile when he was only 18 months old. He died on Friday aged 99.
Michael was born in the Romanian mountain resort of Sinaia. He was also forced into exile.
The pair were playmates as well as relatives. Michael’s mother, Elena who married Romania’s King Carol II and Philip’s father were first cousins.
Margaret, who is the custodian of the crown, said she learned of Prince Philip’s death with „unspeakable sadness,” calling him a „father figure” He was her godfather.
Previously unseen pictures of the two appeared in the Romania media after the death of Queen Elizabeth II’s husband early Friday at Windsor Castle.
Margareta, the eldest daughter of Michael who died in December 2017, said she and her husband “learned with profound sadness and immense sorrow the news of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh” in a tweet.
Michael and Philip were both born in 1921, and were childhood friends.
Michael met his future wife, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma, while in London for Philip’s wedding to Princess Elizabeth of York on Nov. 20, 1947.
Just weeks after that happy event Michael would be forced from his throne by the communist government.
The Duke of Edinburgh later baptized Margareta, Michael and Anne’s eldest child.
Michael was forced to abdicate on December 30, 1947. He spent a life in exile in Britain and Switzerland and was allowed to return to Romania years after communism collapsed. His citizenship was restored in the 1997.
