The Albanian Royal Family have welcomed the latest member of their family on Thursday, 22 October 2020.

The Royal Court made the official announcement later that day.

The Albanian Royal Family is delighted to announce the birth of Her Royal Highness Princess Geraldine, who was born to Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Leka of the Albanians and Crown Princess Elia, Thursday the 22nd of October.

Crown Princess Elia was safely delivered at 09:30, the ‘Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital”‘ in Tirana.

Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.

Prince Leka married Elia Zaharia at the Royal Palace in Tirana on 8 October 2016, with members of other royal families, including Spain, Britain, Serbia, Romania, Luxembourg, Belgium and Greece present.

The little princess was born on the anniversary of Prince Leka’s grandmother Queen Geraldine and named in her honour.

The Albanian Royal Family

However, the monarchy in Albania was abolished following Italy’s invasion in 1939 so King Zog I, Queen Geraldine and their son Crown Prince Leka were forced into exile, first living in neighbouring Greece and Egypt after World War II.

Crown Prince Leka met Australian Susan Cullen-Ward during a dinner party in Sydney.

They married in a civil ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) in Biarritz, followed by a religious ceremony in Madrid in 1975.

Queen Elizabeth II sent a telegram, congratulating the happy couple.

Their son, Crown Prince Leka II was born in South Africa, on 26 March 1982, with the government temporarily declaring the maternity ward as Albanian territory for about an hour.

The Parliament official invited the Royal Family was officially invited back to Albania in 2002, and a special law in favour of the family was passed a year later.