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The Romanian Crown Custodian, Margareta on Sunday characterized as an "uplifting" event the religious service performed by Reverend Peter Galloway in the Savoy Royal Chapel in London, dedicated to Romania and the memory of Queen Maria and King Mihai I.
She explained that in his address, Reverend Galloway highlighted King Mihai's "faith and dignity."
"He was faithful and his dignity, his spirit of always being with his faith, that saved him, actually, throughout all those difficult years when he lived in exile, without his country. It was such an uplifting ceremony, that has inspired and made me happy," Her Majesty said.
The Romanian Crown Custodian brought to mind the ceremony six years ago, when in 2012, she was alongside King Mihai, who was honoured in the Savoy Royal Chapel.
"I was a little afraid that it would be difficult, that I was here with the king six years ago, and I did not know how I would feel. But I am feeling very good, obviously thinking about him all the time. I have been very grateful that everyone has thought of him here," the Crown Custodian confessed.
Her Majesty noted that the members of the Chapel's choir learned the Romanian Royal Anthem, appreciating the gesture as respect for Romania.
"The choir has been sublime. Indeed. They have learned it [the Royal Anthem, ed.n]), and that means a great deal to us. They have also shown respect for our country, and that is nice, that we can open some doors and then they move forward. I was very moved," Her Majesty Margareta said.
She showed that when we talk about Romania, we should not only think about those who cause trouble, because problems are everywhere.
"We mustn't think only about those who cause trouble. They are not only from Romania, they are everywhere. Everything Romanians here have contributed to in the financial sphere, the IT ... It's fantastic what Romanians do here. They are a treasure for the country and are acknowledged for this," the Romanian Crown Custodian further said.
The Romanian Crown Custodian, Margareta and Prince Radu attended on Sunday as guests of honor the religious service performed by Reverend Peter Galloway at the Savoy Royal Chapel in London dedicated to Romania and the memory of Queen Maria and King Mihai I.
In his speech, Reverend Canon Professor Peter Galloway, Officer of the British Empire Order, Chaplain of the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy and Chaplain of the Royal Victorian Order, spoke eloquently about the context of the 1918 Greater Union, about the role played by Queen Maria both during the First World War and after the terrible conflagration when she was present in Western chancelleries to support the cause of Romania. At the same time, he portrayed the personality of King Mihai, the dignity with which he fought against totalitarianism for a democratic regime, crossed the exile and returned to the country he loved.
The British Royal Family was represented at the event by their Royal Highnesses Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Princess Elena and Alexander Nixon, Charles Richards, Deputy Master of the Household of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II, members of the Royal Romanian Council and the Royal House of Her Majesty, the Romanian Crown Custodian were also present.
The religious service was attended by the Ambassadors of Romania and the Republic of Moldova in London, Dan Mihalache and Angela Ponomariov.
The Savoy Royal Chapel is the seat of the British Empire Order, King Mihai I being the oldest member of the Order, whose Grand Cross and Colan he received in 1936 from King George VI.
During a four-day public visit to the United Kingdom, started on Sunday, Romanian Crown Custodian Margareta and Prince Radu will also attend on Monday a dinner in their honour hosted by Travellers Club in London.
The trip to the United Kingdom is the thirteenth foreign visit of the Royal Family of Romania in 2018, after the United Arab Emirates (February), the Kingdom of Morocco (March), the Republic of Turkey (April), the Kingdom of Jordan (April), the Kingdom of Spain ), The Republic of Serbia (June), the Federal Republic of Germany, the Portuguese Republic, the French Republic (September), the Principality of Liechtenstein (October), the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Croatia (November).
This is the first visit to the United Kingdom by Her Majesty Margareta, the Crown Custodian, as Head of the Royal House of Romania.
The visit takes place in the context of the celebration of the Greater Union and the end of the First World War, as well as to introduce the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
