Royal Couple Announces Divorce After 8 Years of Marriage in Separate Statements

Crown Prince Lek and Crown Princess Elia of Albania go their separate ways

• Crown Prince of Albania Leka II and his wife Elia Zharaia have announced that they are divorcing.
• The couple got married in the former Royal Palace in Tirana in October 2016.
• The heir to the throne of Lek was photographed solo at the autumn royal wedding.

Crown Prince Lek II and Crown Princess Elia of Albania go their separate ways.

The news was announced in a statement shared on Monday on the official Instagram of the heir to the throne of Leka, in which it was emphasized that the couple’s three-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine, remains their priority. Leka is the head of the Albanian royal family, and he married Elia Zharaia, an actress and singer, in 2016.

“Hello friends and lovers,” the message below the royal coat of arms began, according to an English translation. “With this post, I am officially informing you that LTM Prince Leka and Elia Zharaia have agreed to dissolve their marriage. Since the marriage lost its function, they decided to resolve it amicably by initiating the necessary legal procedures.”

“Regardless of the commitment to the institution of the family, LTM Leka believes that the values ​​of mutual respect and understanding will form the basis of the relationship in its continuity, which will be motivated by the growth and education of LSM Princess Geraldine. !!!” the statement said, adding that Geraldine’s mental and physical well-being “will remain the focus of their dedicated attention to ensure a happy and safe life.”

King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark celebrate their new reign with a surprise kiss amid rumors of an affair

In the press release, it is stated that the heir to the throne of Lek will not make further comments and privacy is requested during this time.

Leka is the grandson of the late King Zog I, who ruled the Kingdom of Albania from 1928 to 1939. According to his royal biography, he and Elia met in 2008, got engaged in Paris in 2010 and married at the (former) Royal Palace in Tirana 8 .October 2016. Their daughter Geraldine was born on October 22, 2002, and was named after Queen Geraldine, who died 18 years before her great-granddaughter was born.

Hello! magazine reported that Elia, 40, also commented on the divorce news in a separate statement that has since been deleted from social media.

Crown Prince Lek of Albania and Elia Zaharia on their wedding day in October 2016.

Luc Castel/Getty

“Friends and well-wishers, I must inform you that today we have started the legal procedures to get married, as we have jointly decided to seek a divorce,” Elia reportedly said.

“This is not a reality that makes me happy at all, because I believe in family values ​​as the most precious thing! I would never choose for my daughter to grow up with separated parents, but sometimes separation is the only option,” she said. the paper continues, “The most important thing is that my little girl experiences this moment as easily as possible. Thank you very much to everyone who wrote to me and gave me courage!”

“Despite these difficult months I went through, your kindness gave me strength. I wish you health and happiness in your families” she concluded, according to Hello!

It remains unclear what, if any, royal title or styling Elia might retain after the divorce is finalized. She became the Albanian crown princess when she married Leka eight years ago.

Crown Princess Elia, Princess Geraldine and Crown Prince Lek on Princess Geraldine’s birthday in October 2022.

Blerta Celibashi/DNphotography/ABACAPRESS.COM

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

During their marriage, Leka and Elia lived together in Tirana and worked to promote Albania and Kosovo while running the Queen Geraldine Foundation. The royal family’s website states that Prince Leka worked as an adviser at the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and the Office of the Albanian President, while Princess Elia worked at the Albanian National Theatre.

In October 2023, Leka was photographed alone at the royal wedding of Princess Maria Francisca de Braganza and Duarte de Sousa Araujo Martins in Portugal.

Crown Prince Lek of Albania arrives at the Palacio de Mafra Basilica in October 2023 for the wedding of Princess Maria Francisca de Braganza and Duarte de Sousa Araujo Martins.

Albert Nieboer/Netherlands OUT/Point de Vue OUT/dpa/Alamy Live News

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education