Crown Prince Philip Karađorđević issued a public appeal to the state and city authorities to protect the dignity and historical value of Pionirski Park, emphasizing that this space represents a “living monument of Serbian statehood, culture, and identity.”
“As the heir of a dynasty woven into the history of Serbian statehood and culture, I feel a moral obligation to address the public and call upon the competent institutions to protect the dignity of one of the most valuable spaces of our capital — Pionirski Park, formerly the Royal Park,” stated Prince Philip.
He reminded that the site of today’s Pionirski Park once housed the first Serbian royal court, built in 1843 by Prince Alexander Karađorđević. “It was there that the creation of Serbia’s state and cultural center began, where, for the first time, a royal protocol was established and the spirit of an emancipated ruling house prevailed — one that brought Serbia closer to European states,” he said.
Prince Philip also recalled the historical connection between the three representative buildings surrounding the park — the Old Palace, the New Palace, and the National Assembly building.
“The Old Palace, built by King Milan I Obrenović, served as the residence of Kings Peter I and Alexander I Karađorđević. The New Palace, today the building of the Presidency of Serbia, was constructed as the royal residence of my great-grandfather, King Alexander I, while the House of the National Assembly was created as a symbol of state representation and popular authority, with its foundation stone laid by King Peter I,” Prince Philip reminded.
He added that these buildings form “a unique whole of the first state and royal complex in Serbia” and that together they “bear witness to the continuity of Serbian statehood and culture.”
“Pionirski Park today is a legally protected natural asset and a cultural-historical complex of exceptional importance. Its value is not only aesthetic — it has a state, representative, and touristic dimension, as it is surrounded by the highest institutions of the Republic of Serbia and landmarks that represent the face of our country to the world,” stated the Crown Prince.
Prince Philip especially appealed for the removal of the camp located within the park, which, as he noted, “has for months been disrupting the appearance, value, and meaning of this space.”
“Such a sight is not only a matter of aesthetics or safety — it insults the memory of history, undermines the dignity of state institutions, and fuels unnecessary social divisions,” warned Prince Philip.
He emphasized that “Pionirski, or Royal Park, belongs to all citizens of Serbia, regardless of their political, ideological, or any other affiliation.”
“It is a place that should unite us, not divide us — a space that reflects our shared heritage, pride, and state continuity,” said Philip Karađorđević.
In conclusion, Prince Philip called on the competent institutions to act in accordance with the law and protect the park as a natural and cultural treasure of exceptional importance.
“Let this space once again become what it has always been — a place of peace, respect, and unity for all citizens of Serbia,” said the heir of the Karađorđević dynasty.
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Source:Serbian Times, Foto: Printscreen Instagram