Thousands of Romanians joined European royalty yesterday for the state funeral of Romania’s former king Michael, one of the last surviving heads of state from World War II, who died last week aged 96.
The guests included Britain’s Prince Charles, Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, Spain’s former king and queen Juan Carlos and Sofia, and other former and current royals.
Milling crowds earlier spent hours in line to pay their last respects before the coffin, draped in the regal coat of arms, in the throne room of the palace.
It was then taken to Bucharest Cathedral for a mass.
The former king will be buried in the central town of Curtea alongside his father Carol II and his grandfather Ferdinand.
Yesterday Bucharest churches rang their bells and mourners, many in tears, threw white flowers at the funeral procession, chanting “King Michael” and “Down with communism”.
“We took the train this morning and came with all our love and all our heart to pay a final tribute” to the king, Mariana Bolches, who travelled 230km (140 miles) from the southeastern city of Constanta, told AFP.
“I lived all my childhood in a building near the Royal Palace. My walk to school passed by here and I came across the king many times. I loved it so much,” said Teodor Banu, with tears in his eyes.
A descendant of the German Hohenzollern dynasty and a cousin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Michael was in his early 20s when he participated in a 1944 coup that overthrew fascist leader Marshal Ion Antonescu.
Romania then broke with Nazi Germany and switched to the Allied side.
Historians have said his actions might have shortened the war and saved thousands of lives.
After communism collapsed, politicians fearing Michael’s influence blocked his first few attempted visits after decades of exile in Switzerland, Britain and the United States.
Stripped of his citizenship, he eventually settled in Switzerland, where he earned a modest living as an aircraft mechanic and farmer.
He finally returned to Romania in 1992 and regained citizenship in 1997.
“I really appreciated his modesty ... and above all his extraordinary patriotism,” said Andreea Ileana, holding a giant bouquet of white flowers.
Even though the restoration of the monarchy is not an issue in the European Union state, Michael commanded great respect from Romanians who saw him in sharp opposition to a political class which they link with poverty and corruption.
His death comes at a time of deep divisions in Romanian society.
Massive street protests against attempts by the ruling Social Democrats to weaken the fight against corruption and the rule of law have taken place on and off throughout 2017.
Earlier this month, the Social Democrats used their solid majority to approve a judicial overhaul in the lower house that threatens to put the justice system under political control.
Tomorrow, lawmakers begin debating changes to the criminal code that critics say will derail law and order.
With his passing, the Romanian royal family’s relevance will likely fade, since his children have little public standing.
Princess Margareta, his eldest daughter, remains custodian of the crown.