Death of King Ferdinand

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 102, 21 July 1927, Page 1

Death of King Ferdinand

Rumania Plunged in Mourning

Monarch Met the End With Courage

Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Wednesday.

King Ferdinand of Rumania has died, and the Council of Regency has taken over the administration. Ferdinand faced death with indomitable courage. The end was forecast almost to a day. He died of cancer, from which he had been suffering for many years, despite long radium treatment at the hands of the famous Dutch physician, Dr. Sluys. Ferdinand was a popular figure before the war, when he walked the

streets among ms subjects. After the war, he enhanced that popularity by handling the age-old problem of agrarian reforms. The King’s estate was the first one cut up. Those at the dying monarch’s bedside were the Queen and her daughters, the Queen of Yugoslavia, and the former Queen of Greece. The funeral will be at the famous 15th century monastery on the hills, which was restored to serve as a Royal mausoleum. Bucharest, the capital, is in complete mourning. King George and Queen Mary sent a message of condolence. The throne automatically passes to

Prince Michael, the five-year-old son of Prince Carol and Princess Helena of Greece (the lad having been created heir-apparent on December 31, 1925, on his father’s renunciation of his rights to succession). For this reason no proclamation is necessary. During the heir’s minority, a Council of Regency will comprise the late King’s second son, Prince Nicholas (who renounced his own right of succession), the Presi dent of the Court of Cassation (Appeal Court), Dr. Avei, and the patriarch Dr. Cristea, will govern the country.

Prince Nicholas is well-known in London as an honorary lieutenant of the British Navy.

Victo J Albert Meinrad, King of Rumania, was born at Sigmarineren on August 24, 1866. He was a lon of Prince Leopold, a member of the non-reigning Ror J? an Catholic branch of the Hohen- ?° 1 1 ( S 0^ an l l]y - Ln 1866 his uncle Charles hrL d Hf e , n cl 4? se ?. Km S of Rumania, and as his heir Ferdinand became King in October, 1914. The Great War was then Peeress, but it was not until 1916 that Rumania joined in the side of the Allies. The land was soon over-run bv eI ? T I a S s ’ aad du ring the difficult Period that followed there were rumours or the King’s abdication; but these did not materialise, and the end of the war * lim agra * n * n possession of his coun-

In June, 1892, he married the eldest daughter of the late Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Marie, born- in 1875, a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria and niece of King

The King, who was in poor health, was very much troubled by the action of the Crow n p r ince Carol (born in October. 1893), who, in December, 1925, renounced his succession and all his Royal prerogatives. His Majesty in January, 1926, accepted the renunciation and it was decided to proclaim Princ3 Michael, the four-year-old son of Carol and of Princess Helena of Greece, as heir to the Throne. Relations between the King and his eldest son had been strained for a long time. The Prince had been induced to annul his marriage with Madame Lambrino and to marry Princess Helena, but had left her for Madame Lupesco. In the autumn it was suggested that a coup d’etat might be attempted by Prince

Carol and his supporters in the country in the event of Kis father’s death, and that the Premier, General Averescue, and M. Bratiano were determined to oppose any movement to change the existing situation. The recall and reinstatement of Prince Carol were, however, under consideration, both in Court and in political circles, partly owing to his father’s illness, but there was said to be no idea of a coup d’etat. The situation led to an amendment of the existing Regency Council, probably in the direction of giving Queen Marie power to act as Regent, and by an alteration in the status of Carol. Little news had been heard of the King’s condition till the last few days, when it became evident that the end was near. In addition to Prince Carol, the King and Queen have four children: Princess Elisabeth, born in 1894, who married the Crown Prince of Greece, who later became King but was compelled to abdicate; Princess Marie, born in 1899, who married King Alexander I. of Serbia: Prince Nicholas, born in 1903, and Princess Ileana, born in 1908.

rp-ZLE death of Rumania's King, Ferdinand Victor Albert Meinrad, is announced after a protracted and painful illness, caused by cancer. He teas 62 years of age. His death fulfilled the medical forecast almost to a day. A Council of Regency loxll govern the country during the minority of his successor, Prince Michael, icho is but a child.