Leka, Crown Prince of Albania
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| Pretender: Crown Prince Leka | |
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| Born | April 5, 1939 (age 67) |
| Regnal name claimed | Leka I |
| Title(s) if any | Crown Prince |
| Throne claimed | Albania |
| Pretend from | April 9, 1961 - present |
| Monarchy abolished | 1945 |
| Last monarch | Zog |
| Connection with | son |
| Royal House | Zogu |
| Father | Zog of Albania |
| Mother | Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi |
| Spouse | Susan Cullen-Ward |
| Children | Leka |
Leka, Crown Prince of Albania (Leka Zogu), (born April 5, 1939) is the only son of King Zog I and his Queen consort, Countess Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Apponyi. He is the pretender to the Albanian throne and is sometimes known as King Leka I.
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[edit] Family And Early Life
King Zog I was forced into exile only two days after the birth of Leka and soon officially replaced on the throne of Albania by Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.
After the Royal Family left Albania in 1939 they settled in England, living at the Ritz Hotel, and from 1941 at Parmoor House in Buckinghamshire. In 1946 they left to live in Alexandria in Egypt and later moved to Paris, where King Zog died in 1961.
Leka was educated at English schools in Egypt and in Switzerland. He also studied economics at Sorbonne and passed out of Sandhurst Military Academy in England. He has since reinforced the family fortune with a successful business career and reportedly illicit arms dealing.
Leka was appointed heir apparent of the Albanian throne on April 5, 1957, while Albania was still under communist rule. At the death of King Zog I in 1961, Leka was proclaimed King of the Albanians by the Albanian National Assembly in Exile, in Paris. He also has the title of Sovereign Grand Master of the Orders of Scanderbeg, Fidelity and Bravery.
In 1975, Leka married Australian citizen and former school teacher and landowner Susan Cullen-Ward in Biarritz; Albanian royalists style her as Queen Susan. The wedding was a large event with the many guests toasting "Long live the King" as well as toasting General Franco who was, along with the then Prince Juan Carlos, a personal friend of Prince Leka. The wedding reception was attended by around 2000 people.
Leka spent a long time in exile in Bryanston, South Africa, where his son the Crown Prince, Prince Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe was born. He currently resides in Tirana, Albania, where his wife Susan died on July 17, 2004.
[edit] Business Career
His business enterprises have included arms dealing, for which he has been arrested. He has a keen interest in weaponry and brought a large cache of arms (amounting to around 90, including hand grenades and rocket launchers) into Albania when he recently returned, describing it as a historic collection. Once, when his plane landed in Botswana to refuel, an armed militia, allegedly agents of Albania's communist government, attempted to seize him. Leka went to the door of the plane with a rocket launcher to warn them off. He succeeded, and his plane managed to leave the airport after a gun battle.
On the occasion of his wedding, he said "I normally wear two pistols but not even I could carry guns at my wedding reception." This has led some to give him the nickname "Rambo of the Balkans".
[edit] Return to Albania
In 1993 he entred Albania for the first time, doing so under a passport issued by his Royal Court-in-exile. The Albanian authorities permitted him to enter. He stated at this time that he would renounce this passport and become a normal citizen if a referendum on the monarchy failed.
A referendum was held in Albania in 1997 concerning a monarchical restoration. The restoration was supported by approximately forty per cent of voters. Zogu refused to recognize the result, and, questioned the independence of the election. He refused to renounce his Royal passport and later attempted to organise an armed insurrection following the election results, before being forced back into exile. When asked if he intended to leave Albania he replied "Why? It is my country". Once he had left Albania again he was tried and sentenced for sedition, in absentia.
Leka is backed by the Legality Party which formed a coalition with other parties in Albania. Leka, however does not vote stating that "I am above all political parties, even my own".
Leka is head of the Movement for National Development [1], however in February 2006 he announced he would be withdrawing from political and public life[[2]].
Leka is friends with many monarchs and politicians throughout the world, including the late President Ronald Reagan. In 1967 Leka presented Reagan with a baby elephant named Gertie he had bought through Harrods. It was later donated to Sacramento Zoo.
[edit] External links
| House of Zogu Born: April 5 1939; Died: |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by: King Zog |
* NOT REIGNING * King of Albania (1961–Present) |
Incumbent Designated heir: Prince Leka |
