From royal palace to political candidate: the unexpected life of Princess Elizabeth
In short: Born in Belgrade's White Palace, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia lived through the collapse of a monarchy and the rise of a nation. Beyond her royal lineage, she emerged as a dedicated human rights activist, navigating the complex tensions of the Balkan wars and even running for the Serbian presidency.
The life of Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia, born on 7 April 1936, was shaped by the turbulent shifts of 20th-century Balkan history. As the daughter of Prince Paul and Princess Olga, she was part of the House of Karađorđević, a dynasty whose properties, including the White Palace, were confiscated by the state in 1947 under a decree by Edvard Kardelj. Following the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy in 1945, the family faced exile and the loss of citizenship, status that was not restored until 2001 after the fall of Slobodan Milošević.
Elizabeth’s personal life was as varied as the political landscape. Her history includes a 1954 'Cruise of the Kings' through Europe, a brief engagement to actor Richard Burton in 1974, and three marriages: first to American businessman Howard Oxenberg, then to Neil Balfour, and finally to the former Prime Minister of Peru, Manuel Ulloa Elías. Her upbringing was truly international, with education spanning Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Paris.
However, her legacy is defined less by royalty and more by her activism. Recognizing the early signs of 'Balkanization,' she established the Princess Elizabeth Foundation in 1990 to provide aid to refugees during the subsequent civil wars. Her work focused on humanitarian relief, such as transporting medical supplies and food, and facilitating education for displaced students. In 2002, her efforts to strengthen international peace earned her the Nuclear Disarmament Forum Award in Switzerland, placing her alongside figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
In 2004, she transitioned from humanitarian work to direct politics, running for the Serbian presidency. Despite opposition from her cousin, Prince Alexander, who argued the royals should remain apolitical, she campaigned on a platform of building a 'real State' rather than restoring a monarchy. She ultimately secured 63,991 votes, representing 2.1% of the total, finishing sixth in a field of fifteen candidates.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia
- Also: Wikidata — Princess Elizabeth of Serbia · CC0
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