Elisabeta Palace

In July 1935, Princess Elisabeth, former Queen Consort of Greece, divorced her second cousin, the deposed King George II of Greece. After her divorce, she moved to Romania, where she stayed at Banloc Castle.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

In 1930, the plans for Elisabeta Palace were made by Romanian architect Duiliu Marcu, who had designed Victoria Palace as well as many other buildings, but all building plans were brought to a halt in the early 1930s due to the Great Depression. Construction finally started in 1936, with the edifice inaugurated in December 1937.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

For Elisabeth, the Palace was the achievement of a long elusive dream, heightened during the dearth years spent in Greece. In her memoirs, she wrote: "Perhaps the only thing that I really want is a house of my own something that I can call mine. It has always been my greatest longing since the age of 17. My house to create, to improve, to make perfect and love, offering hospitality to and rejoicing with all those who would love it too. I think the possession of a house would really make me happy. I lived on that hope when I came back to Romania".{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

The Palace was the official residence of Princess Elisabeth until 1944, when King Michael I performed his coup and overthrew the Nazi-supporting government. After the coup, he left Royal Palace of Bucharest, the official royal residence of the King of Romania, and moved into Elisabeta Palace with his mother to be directly in the centre of the capital; Princess Elisabeth had moved to Copăceni Castle.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

On the evening of 30 December 1947, King Michael abdicated. Much later, he claimed that he was forced to do it at gunpoint, with the Palace surrounded by troops from the Tudor Vladimirescu Division, an army unit loyal to the Communists.{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/8957/960510.html |title=Dezvaluiri |website=www.geocities.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027123236/http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/8957/960510.html |archive-date=27 October 2009 |url-status=dead}}

Following King Michael's abdication and throughout the period of the "Socialist Republic of Romania", the Palace fell into disuse until 2001, when the former Royal Family returned to Romania after nearly five decades of exile. At that time, they were given official use of the Palace by a bill signed by Traian Băsescu, 4th President of Romania, and approved by the Romanian Senate.{{cite news | url=http://www.rferl.mobi/a/1059599.html | title=Romania: Former Monarch Wins Restitution Claim | newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty | date=8 April 2008 | last1=Tomiuc | first1=Eugen }}

Today Elisabeta Palace is the working residence of Margareta of Romania and Prince Radu. It is also the Headquarters of Her Majesty's Household Association ({{Langx|ro|Asociația Casa Majestății Sale}}), an NGO recognised by the Government of Romania as 'an Organization of Public Utility' which supports the activities of the Royal Family.{{Cite web|url=https://casamajestatiisale.ro/asociatia-casa-majestatii-sale/palatul-elisabeta/|title=Website of Her Majesty's Household Association|access-date=2021-08-20}} Margareta's sisters also carry out engagements from the Elisabeta Palace when in Bucharest.

Margareta and the Royal Family frequently receive cultural and political leaders at the Elisabeta Palace who have included The President of Romania{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/presedintele-ales-al-romaniei-invitat-la-pranz-de-majestatea-sa/|title=President Iohannis visits the Royal Family at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}} and the Prime Minister{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/dineu-regal-cu-ocazia-zilei-de-10-mai/|title=Prime Minister Victor Ponta attends Dinner at Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/majestatea-sa-s-a-intalnit-cu-prim-ministrul-ludovic-orban/|title=Prime Minister Ludovic Orban calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/prim-ministrul-invitat-la-pranz-de-custodele-coroanei/|title=Prime Minister Viorica Dăncilă calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/prim-ministrul-si-doamna-ciolos-invitati-la-cina-de-familia-regala/|title=Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș calls on Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace |access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/romanian-prime-minister-dinner-at-elisabeta-palace/|title=Prime Minister Dacian Cioloș has dinner with Royal Family at Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}} among many others. The Royal Family also receive foreign leaders at the Palace{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/povestea-in-imagini-a-vizitei-presedintelui-republicii-cehe-la-familia-regala-a-romaniei/|title=The President of the Czech Republic visits the Royal Family |access-date=2021-08-20}}The Court Circular 30th May 2018: "The Prince of Wales this evening called upon Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania at Elisabeta Palace", 30th March 2017: "His Royal Highness this evening called upon Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest", 30th May 2016: "The Prince of Wales called upon Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest", 20th May 2011: "The Prince of Wales later called upon The Crown Princess of Romania at Elisabeta Palace, Bucharest." as well as hosting receptions, investitures and dinners. An annual Garden Party is given by Margareta in the grounds of the Palace on 10 May to celebrate Monarchy Day.{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/garden-party-palatul-elisabeta-10-mai-2019/|title=2019 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/10-mai-2018/|title=2018 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/programul-familiei-regale-la-sarbatoarea-nationala-de-10-mai-din-acest-an/|title=2017 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace and other Monarchy Day Events|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/fotografiile-de-la-sarbatoarea-nationala-de-10-mai/|title=2015 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/sarbatoarea-de-10-mai-la-palatul-elisabeta-vazuta-de-daniel-angelescu//|title=2014 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/imagini-de-la-garden-party-10-mai-2013/|title=2013 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/garden-party-la-palatul-elisabeta-10-mai-2012/|title=2012 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/garden-party-de-10-mai-2011-la-palatul-elisabeta/|title=2011 Garden Party at the Elisabeta Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}In 2016 the Garden Party was held at Peles Castle to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Dynasty, in 2020 it was cancelled due to the pandemic and in 2021 Monarchy Day was celebrated at Savarsin Castle In June 2021 the Royal Family held a Reception to mark 20 years since they returned to the Elisabeta Palace.{{Cite web|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/social/2021/06/30/principele-radu-20-de-ani-la-palatul-elisabeta-am-dovedit-la-ce-este-utila-coroana-romana--740573/|title=Prince Radu: 20 years at Elisabeta Palace; we proved what the Romanian Crown is useful for|access-date=2021-08-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/sarbatorirea-a-doua-decenii-la-palatul-elisabeta/|title=Two decades at Elizabeth Palace|access-date=2021-08-20}}

From 2020 the Palace was opened to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday at certain points in the year between April and November for guided tours of the public rooms and grounds.{{Cite web|url=https://casamajestatiisale.ro/expozitia-regala-palatul-elisabeta//|title=Elisabeta Palace Royal Exhibition|access-date=2021-08-20}}

File:Plaque Elisabeta Palace monument.jpg|The trilingual plaque at the main gate, briefly tells the story of the building.

File:Elisabeta Palace Dining Room2.jpg|The dining room

File:Romanian Royal Standard seen from Herăstrău Park 1.jpg|The personal flag of Crown Princess Margareta of Romania flying over the palace

File:EPG1.jpg|The garden

• Romanian Royal Family
• Săvârșin Castle
• Peleș Castle
• Pelișor Castle

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100407093305/http://www.panoramas.ro/istorie/elisabetagen.html Photo gallery]
• [https://casamajestatiisale.ro Asociaţia Casa Majestăţii Sale] Her Majesty's Household Association based at the Elisabeta Palace.
• [https://www.romaniaregala.ro Online Journal of the Romanian Royal Family] Covering events held at the Elisabeta Palace

{{Palaces and castles in Romania}}

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{{Coord|44.4708|N|26.07965|E|display=title}}

Category:Royal residences in Romania

Category:Palaces in Bucharest

Category:Buildings and structures in Bucharest

Category:Art Nouveau architecture in Bucharest

Category:Art Nouveau houses