Their Royal Highnesses Hereditary Prince Philip and Princess Danica Karadjordjevic, together with their children, Prince Stefan and Princess Marija, will stay next month in Chicago, among the Serbian people who have been preserving their faith, tradition, and love for the Homeland far from its borders for generations.
This will be the first official royal visit of the Hereditary Prince and his family to the United States of America, and on this occasion, several solemn and charitable events dedicated to preserving the unity, identity, and spiritual heritage of the Serbian people will be held.
The program of the visit will begin with a solemn “Royal Dinner,” which will be held on Friday, June 19 at 7 p.m., in the ceremonial hall of the St. Nikola Church in Lyons.
The central event will be the Vidovdan Reception, on Sunday, June 21, at the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral on Redwood Drive, while the end of the visit will be marked by a special evening dedicated to the ladies – “The Princess’s Evening,” a cocktail and a lecture by Princess Danica on the topic “Modern Woman Between Tradition and the Future,” which will be held on June 23 at the Pella Signature venue in Burr Ridge.
Speaking about the upcoming arrival in Chicago, Hereditary Prince Philip emphasized that this visit has a deep personal and historical significance for his family.
“With special joy, my family and I are coming among our people in Chicago – among the people who, despite the distance, have preserved the Serbian name, faith, language, and love for their roots. Chicago is not just a big city and one of the most significant centers of the Serbian diaspora for us. It is a place of deep historical and emotional connection of our family with the Serbian people in the diaspora. It was right here that my grandfather, King Peter II, first rested, which is why I perceive this arrival not as an official visit, but as a return among my own people,” says Prince Philip and adds:
Gde god Srbi živeli, ono što nas održava kroz vreme jesu vera, porodica, međusobno poštovanje i osećaj pripadnosti istom narodu. Naša je dužnost da te veze čuvamo i prenosimo budućim generacijama, dostojanstveno, složno i sa verom u budućnost“.
“Wherever Serbs live, what sustains us through time are faith, family, mutual respect, and a sense of belonging to the same nation. It is our duty to preserve these bonds and pass them on to future generations, with dignity, harmony, and with faith in the future.”
During his stay in Chicago, the Hereditary Prince will also present a major humanitarian and educational project “Serbian Camp,” which starting from 2027 will gather children from the diaspora, Serbia, and the region through joint socializing, educational programs, and introduction to the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Serbian people. The project will be realized by the Royal Foundation in cooperation with the Serbian Times.
“I believe there is no more important investment than investing in our children and their mutual connection. We want young people growing up around the world to get to know each other, build friendships for life, and feel that they belong to the same cultural and spiritual space, regardless of where they were born.
It is particularly important that children from the diaspora do not get to know Serbia only through family stories, but through personal experience, through our language, customs, shrines, and history. That is precisely why ‘Serbian Camp’ will be a place of meeting, unity, and preservation of identity, a modern hearth that will connect our people around the world,” concludes the Hereditary Prince.
Princess Danica emphasized that it means a lot to her that she will bring Prince Stefan and Princess Marija to Chicago, so that they too can get to know the Serbian community that has remained strongly attached to its Homeland and the Crown through the decades.
“For me, this arrival is much more than a protocol visit. I want our children to see how strongly the heart of the Serbian people beats even outside the borders of Serbia and how much love for the Homeland exists among our people in the diaspora. It is important that they grow up with the awareness that they belong to a nation of rich history, deep spirituality, and strong family values. It is precisely such encounters that leave a mark for life and teach new generations the responsibility to preserve their origin, culture, tradition, but also to build bridges between Serbia and our diaspora,” emphasized Princess Danica.
Speaking about her lecture within “The Princess’s Evening” event, Princess Danica emphasized that a modern woman can be simultaneously oriented towards the future and deeply connected to her identity and tradition.
“I believe that a woman of today can successfully preserve her family and family values, remain connected to her roots, and at the same time be an educated, fulfilled, and modern woman. Our heritage is the strength that gives us identity and inner stability. Especially among our people in the diaspora, women often remain the most important keepers of language, faith, family spirit, and tradition.
I look forward to meeting our people in Chicago and talking about the values that connect us, wherever we live.”
Reservations for the “Royal Dinner” and the “Ladies’ Evening with the Princess” event can be made by phone at (708) 981-5244 or via email address: serbiantimesinfo@gmail.com.
Author: Antonije Kovačević Photo: Handout
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