Leka, Prince of Albania
{{about|the grandson of Zog I|the son of Zog I|Leka, Crown Prince of Albania}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Leka
| title =
| succession = Head of the House of Zogu
| reign = 30 November 2011 – present
| reign-type = Period
| image = Léka II Zogu à Thiais, 2012.jpg
| caption = Prince Leka in 2012
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|3|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sandton Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa
| full name = Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe Zogu
| house = Zogu
| father = Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
| mother = Susan Cullen-Ward
| spouse = {{marriage|Elia Zaharia |8 October 2016|January 2024|reason=divorced}}
| issue = Princess Geraldine
| predecessor = Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
| successor =
| signature = Leka Zogu II (nënshkrim).svg
}}
Leka, Prince of Albania (Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe Zogu, born 26 March 1982) is the current head of the House of Zogu, the former royal family of Albania.
At the time of his birth on 26 March 1982, the South African government, by order of Prime Minister P. W. Botha, declared his maternity ward extraterritorial land, to ensure that Leka was born on Albanian soil. Leka is the only child of Leka, Crown Prince of Albania and his wife Susan, Crown Princess of Albania. He is the only grandchild of King Zog I of the Albanians, succeeding as head of the royal house upon the death of his father in 2011. He has worked as an official at the country's interior and foreign ministries. He also served as a political advisor to the Albanian President from 2012 to 2013.{{cite web|url=https://albanianroyalcourt.al/crown-prince-leka-ii/ |title=Albanian Royal Family – Crown Prince Leka II |website=Albanianroyalcourt.al |access-date=2022-05-29}}
In May 2010, Leka became engaged to Elia Zaharia,{{cite web|url=http://archivesgotha.chez-alice.fr/membres.htm |title=membres.htm |website=Archivesgotha.chez-alice.fr |access-date=2017-01-12}} an Albanian actress and singer. They married on 8 October 2016 in Tirana.{{cite web|url=http://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2016-08-24/leka-y-elia-de-albania-los-protagonistas-de-la-boda-que-reunira-a-la-realeza-europea_1250196/ |title=Boda real de Leka y Elia de Albania: Leka y Elia de Albania: así son los novios de la boda que reunirá a la realeza de Europa. Noticias de Casas Reales |website=Vanitatis.elconfidencial.com |date=2016-08-24 |access-date=2017-01-12}} In January 2024, they revealed they were getting a divorce.{{Cite web |title=Royal Couple Announces Divorce After 8 Years of Marriage in Separate Statements |url=https://people.com/royal-couple-albania-announce-divorce-8-years-marriage-8426855 |access-date=2024-01-19 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
Early life
Leka is the son of the pretender to the defunct throne of Albania, Crown Prince Leka, and his Australian wife Crown Princess Susan.
He was named in honour of Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat, his grandfather King Zog I, Emperor Mohammed Reza of Iran, and Baudouin I, King of the Belgians. Msiziwe is a Zulu term meaning 'the one who was assisted'. Leka is a member of the House of Zogu.
Education and activities
Leka was educated in South Africa at St Peter's College, Johannesburg, and in the United Kingdom at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he was named Best Foreign Student of the academy, being congratulated by the Albanian Minister of Defence.http://www.mod.gov.al/eng/lajme/lexo_lajm.asp?IDNews=1858{{dead link|date=January 2017}} He was also educated at the Skanderbeg Military Academy in Albania, at the Università per Stranieri in Perugia, where he studied the Italian language, and in Kosovo, where he studied international relations.{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.al/english/lajm.asp?id=4545 |title=Ministria e Punëve të Jashtme |website=Mfa.gov.al |access-date=2017-01-12}}
On 5 April 2004, Leka accepted the Mother Teresa Medal on behalf of his late grandmother, Queen Géraldine, for her humanitarian efforts.{{cite web |url=http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal4a.htm |title=The Revival of Nobiliary and Heraldic "Traditions" in the Republic of Albania
|author= James J. Algrant|website=worldroots.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040508143457/http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal4a.htm |archive-date=8 May 2004 |url-status=dead}}
Leka is known to have worked with youth organizations, like MJAFT!, and supported a wide range of humanitarian efforts in Albania, but he maintains that he only supports self-help projects to stimulate Albanian and Kosovar economic growth, Gazeta Sot.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
Leka is known as a supporter of Kosovar independence from Serbia and has close ties to the Kosovar leadership in Pristina.{{vague|date=May 2020}}
Leka founded the youth leadership of the Movement for National Development, which was a movement created by his father in 2005 to change the political face of Albania.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}
On 24 June 2010, Prince Leka unveiled a blue plaque at Parmoor House in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, which was the home of King Zog during his wartime exile.{{cite news|last=Rees|first=Neil| url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/19255818.countys-fascinating-royal-links---including-gave-buckingham-palace-name/|title=Our county's fascinating royal links – including how it gave Buckingham Palace its name|date=25 April 2021|work=Bucks Free Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425194256/https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/19255818.countys-fascinating-royal-links---including-gave-buckingham-palace-name/|archive-date=25 April 2021}}
Public service
On 21 August 2007, Foreign Minister Lulzim Basha announced that Leka had been appointed to his office. The prince intended to pursue a career in diplomacy. After three years he was transferred to the office of the Minister of Interior. After the election of Bujar Nishani as president in 2012, Leka was appointed as political adviser to the President.http://uranushost.com/president/?p=308{{dead link|date=January 2017}}
Leka was rumoured to be a candidate in the 2022 Albanian presidential election{{cite web|title=Prince Leka candidate for president? What was hidden from the meeting he had with Philip Ricker and Yuri Kim |url=https://politiko.al/english/e-tjera/princ-leka-kandidat-per-president-fshihte-takimi-qe-pati-me-philip-ricke-i457557 |website=politiko.al|date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408190256/https://politiko.al/english/e-tjera/princ-leka-kandidat-per-president-fshihte-takimi-qe-pati-me-philip-ricke-i457557|archive-date=8 April 2022}}{{cite web|title=Princ Leka kandidat për President? Takimi me ambasadoren Yuri Kim dhe zyrtarin e lartë amerikan që ngriti dyshimet |url=https://newsbomb.al/princ-leka-kandidat-per-president-takimi-me-ambasadoren-yuri-kim-dhe-zyrtarin-e-larte-amerikan-qe-ngriti-dyshimet/ |website=newsbomb.al |date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409073635/https://newsbomb.al/princ-leka-kandidat-per-president-takimi-me-ambasadoren-yuri-kim-dhe-zyrtarin-e-larte-amerikan-qe-ngriti-dyshimet/|archive-date=9 April 2022}} though no candidates were disclosed {{cite web |last1=Sinoruka |first1=Fjori |title=Air of Secrecy Hangs Over Election of Albanian President |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/03/air-of-secrecy-hangs-over-election-of-albanian-president/ |website=Balkan Insight |access-date=2 September 2024}} and the position ultimately went to Bajram Begaj.{{Cite web |title=Albania Elects Top General as Country's New President |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/albania-elects-top-general-as-country-s-new-president-/6603918.html |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=VOA |language=en}}
Personal life
Leka met Elia Zaharia in Paris, and in May 2010 they were engaged. Since then she accompanied him on most of his visits and meetings with members of royal families. She is also head of the Queen Geraldine Foundation, which is a humanitarian, charitable and non-profit organisation, created by the Royal Court. The foundation aims to be close to Albanian families who need help and to children who need care. It has reconstructed numerous schools and kindergartens in northern Albania, especially in the Mat District, from where the Zogu Family comes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
On 27 March 2016 it was announced by Skënder Zogu (born 1933), a member of the Zogu family, that the couple would be married on 8 October 2016 in the Royal Palace in Tirana.
=Wedding=
File:Wedding of Crown Prince Leka of Albania and Elia Zaharia (2016).jpg, Empress Farah of Iran, Elia, Leka, Queen Sofía of Spain. Second row, left to right: Alexander, Crown Prince of Serbia, Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Margareta of Romania, Prince Radu of Romania, Nicholas, Prince of Montenegro. ]]
Leka was married on Saturday 8 October 2016 in Tirana. The ceremony was a semi-official ceremony, held in Tirana in the Royal Palace, with many guests including members of other noble and royal families. The event was a civil wedding officiated by the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj. A blessing was given by the five religious leaders of Albania representing the faiths of Sunni Islam, Bektashi, and the Christian traditions of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. This tradition of the Albanian royal family is part of the tradition of religious tolerance in Albania.{{cite web|url=http://www.balkanweb.com/site/fotot-ceremonia-e-dasmes-mbreterore-elia-zaharia-drejt-altarit-me-princ-leken-ja-fustani-madheshtor/ |title=Fotot+Video/ Dasma mbretĂŤrore, Elia Zaharia i thotĂŤ "Po" Princ LekĂŤs. Marrin bekimin e krerĂŤve fetarĂŤ |website=BalkanWeb.com |date=8 October 2016 |access-date=2017-01-12}}
Wedding guests included friends and relatives from around the world including relatives of his mother from Australia. Guests also included members of other royal families from neighbouring countries and further afield. These included Queen Sofía of Spain and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Prince Michael of Kent is a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and his wife Princess Michael of Kent is related to Prince Leka through her mother, Countess Marianne Szapáry, who was a 5th cousin of Queen Géraldine and had been a bridesmaid at her wedding to King Zog in 1938. Other royal guests included Empress Farah of Iran, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia, Crown Princess Margareta of Romania, Custodian of the Crown and Prince Radu of Romania, Nicholas, Prince of Montenegro, Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg together with Princess Sibilla, Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia, Princess Léa of Belgium and other members from the royal families of Russia, Liechtenstein, Romania, Greece, Georgia, Morocco and members of other noble families. Heads of state of Albania also attended the ceremony.{{cite web|url=http://www.royalfamily.org/royal-couple-at-royal-wedding-in-albania/ |title=Royal Couple at Royal Wedding in Albania | The Royal Family of Serbia |website=Royalfamily.org |date=8 October 2016 |access-date=2017-01-12}}
=Divorce=
It was announced on their Instagram page on 15 January 2024 that Prince Leka and Elia would be getting a mutual divorce as their marriage was no longer functioning.{{Cite web |title=Royal Couple Announces Divorce After 8 Years of Marriage in Separate Statements |url=https://people.com/royal-couple-albania-announce-divorce-8-years-marriage-8426855 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=readJanuary 18 |first1=Reilly SullivanDigital Reporterless than 2 min |last2=2024 - 11:30am |date=2024-01-17 |title=Half-Australian Prince one of Europe's most eligible bachelors |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity-life/halfaustralian-prince-leka-ii-of-albania-one-of-europes-most-eligible-bachelors-after-announcing-divorce/news-story/1df358977ee039c1f5a4cfd9ea3f5a45 |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=skynews |language=en}} Leka confirmed plans for the divorce two days prior on his personal Instagram page as well.
They divorced on 25 April 2024.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
=Children=
Elia gave birth to a daughter on 22 October 2020 at Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana, on the 18th anniversary of Leka's grandmother Queen Geraldine's death. Their daughter was named Geraldine in her honour.{{Cite web|url=https://albanianroyalcourt.al/a-road-trip-to-mat-2/|title=Official Announcement|date=22 October 2020|work=Albanianroyalcourt.al|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330040425/https://albanianroyalcourt.al/a-road-trip-to-mat-2/|archive-date=30 March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.al/ekskluzive-princ-leka-dhe-elia-zaharia-behen-prinder-per-here-te-pare-zbulohet-emri-i-vecante-i-vajzes/|title=EKSKLUZIVE/ Princ Leka dhe Elia Zaharia bëhen prindër për herë të parë, zbulohet emri i veçantë i vajzës|date=22 October 2020|work=abcnews.al|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027024334/https://abcnews.al/ekskluzive-princ-leka-dhe-elia-zaharia-behen-prinder-per-here-te-pare-zbulohet-emri-i-vecante-i-vajzes/|archive-date=27 October 2020}}[https://albanianroyalcourt.al/communique-de-la-maison-royale/ Albanian Royal Court] On 28 January 2023, on the day of her baptism, her full name is Geraldine Sibilla Francesca Susan Marie, and her godparents are Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg and Thomas Frashëri, a family friend.{{Cite web |title=Communiqué de la Maison Royale |url=https://albanianroyalcourt.al/communique-de-la-maison-royale/ |access-date=2023-08-27 |language=en-GB}}
Honours and awards
=Honours=
==National dynastic honours==
- {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} House of Zogu: Highest Holder of the Grand Collar of Honour of Albania{{cite book |title=REGISTER OF ORDERS OF CHIVALRY |date=28 February 2022 |publisher=International Commission for Orders of Chivalry |page=26 |url=https://www.icocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ICOC-REGISTER-2021.pdf |access-date=26 May 2022}}
- {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} House of Zogu: Grand Master of the Order of Fidelity
- {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} House of Zogu: Grand Master of the Order of Skanderbeg{{cite web|url=http://gazetadielli.com/italy-honours-hrh-prince-leka-ii-and-the-albanian-indipendence/ |title=Italy honours HRH Prince Leka II and the Albanian Independence |website=Gazetadielli.com |date=2014-04-07 |access-date=2017-01-12}}
- {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} House of Zogu: Grand Master of the Military Order and Medal of Bravery{{cite web |url=http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al/pages/royal%20decorations |title=Albanian Royal Family – Royal Decorations and {{as written|Warr|ents [sic]}} |website=Albanianroyalcourt.al |access-date=2017-01-12 |archive-date=18 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318040723/http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al/pages/royal%20decorations |url-status=dead }}
==Foreign honours==
- {{Flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} Italian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus{{cite web|url=http://albania.dyndns.org/Presse/2012/22052012LekaII.htm |title=COMMUNIQUE DE LA COUR ROYALE D'ALBANIE|website=Albania.dyndns.org |date=22 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507195654/http://albania.dyndns.org/Presse/2012/22052012LekaII.htm|archive-date=7 May 2021}}
- {{flagicon|Two Sicilies}} Two Sicilian Royal Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I{{cite web|url=http://www.constantinian.org.uk/albanias-crown-prince-leka-ii-invested-knight-grand-cross-royal-order-francis/ |title=Albania's Crown Prince Leka II invested as Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I|website=Constantinian.org.uk |date=9 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506005600/http://www.constantinian.org.uk/albanias-crown-prince-leka-ii-invested-knight-grand-cross-royal-order-francis/|archive-date=6 May 2021}}
- {{flagicon image|Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Russia (1858–1917).svg}} Russian Imperial Family: Knight Grand Cross of the Imperial Order of Saint Andrew{{cite news|title=PICTORIAL: Russia's first royal wedding since 1917|url=https://promptnews.com.ng/2021/10/01/pictorial-russias-first-royal-wedding-since-1917/|date=1 October 2021|work=PromptNews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002013535/https://promptnews.com.ng/2021/10/01/pictorial-russias-first-royal-wedding-since-1917/|archive-date=2 October 2021}}
- {{Flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit[https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs8sI5pt8hP/?hl=es Instagram]
=Awards=
- {{flag|Albania}} – Honored Citizen of the City of Burrel (2012){{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
- {{flag|Albania}} – Honored Citizen of the Commune of Bërdicë (2012){{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
- {{flag|USA}} – Key to City of New Orleans (2011){{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
- {{flag|USA}} – Honorary Mayor of the City of Baton Rouge{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- Patrice Najbor, Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa maison royale (5 volumes), JePublie, Paris, 2008, ({{ISBN|978-2-9532382-0-4}}).
- Patrice Najbor, la dynastye des Zogu, Textes & Prétextes, Paris, 2002
- Geraldine of the Albanians; Robyns, Gwen – {{ISBN|0-584-11133-9}}
- Rees, Neil: A Royal Exile – King Zog & Queen Geraldine of Albania including their wartime exile in the Thames Valley and Chilterns, 2010 ({{ISBN|978-0-9550883-1-5}})
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al Official website of the Albanian Royal Court]
- [http://albania.dyndns.org/ Site Officiel de la Maison Royale d'Albanie]
- [http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor.htm Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa Maison Royale 1443–2007]
- [http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor_albanie_juifs.htm L'Albanie et le sauvetage des Juifs]
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Category:People from Johannesburg
Category:Albanian people of American descent
Category:Albanian people of Hungarian descent
Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Category:Università per Stranieri di Perugia alumni
Category:Recipients of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus