During his thirty years in Romania, Prince Paul has visited all parts of Romania where he was welcomed with utmost respect. He created a special bond with every social groups and accomplished a remarkable social work with the help of Princess Lia.
The Brancovan Cross of Dealul Mitropoliei
The 300 year-old Brancovan Cross, erected by the feudal lord, St. Constantin Brancovan, in memory of his father, who was slain during The Seimeni Revolt, was once one of the most important symbols of Romanian history and spiritualism. The Communist regime bulldozed down this monument and stored the fragments in the sub-basement of the National Museum of Art in Bucharest for over fifteen years.
There is a tradition in the Romanian Royal Family that after a Royal Wedding, the new couple is expected to participate in a protocol with the Romanian Orthodox Church. We were most pleased when our beloved friend, His Holiness, Bishop Vincențiu Ploieșteanul, who officiated at our wedding, together with Father Galeriu, suggested that our protocol could be the re-construction of the two-ton Brancovan Cross to its rightful place at the base of the Patriarchal Hill. We are honored to lead this project not only because we wished to complete our duty in the tradition of the Romanian Royal Family but also because I am a descendant of Voievod Constantin Brancovan, who was later canonized as a Christian martyr.
It is our understanding from members of the foreign press, that, in Eastern Europe, this is one of the first monuments to have been destroyed by the Communists and re-constructed by Democracy.
We wish to thank the sponsors for their generosity, the noted historians, church leaders of all denominations, members of the Diplomatic Corps, especially, the Brazilian Ambassador, H.E. Jeronimo Moscardo and the Board of Directors of The Prince Paul Foundation for Romania for their collaboration, guidance and for all their efforts in realizing the completion of this historical and religious monument that is such an apt representative of the spirit of the new Romania.
HRH Prince Paul of Romania Chairman
Visit to the medieval town of Fagaras
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Paul and Princess Lia visited the medieval town of Fagaras at the invitation of the mayor to establish a protocol with the Radu Negru High School for scholarships in history, literature, and chemistry. They then visited the Brancovan Monastery, built in the 17th century by Prince Brancovan, of whom Prince Paul is a descendant through his grandmother. Finally, they were received by the mayor and the head of the monastery under the ancient Brancovan-style marble columns, in the company of all the priests.
Burial of HRH Prince Carol Mircea of Romania in Cozia Monastery
n 2006, HRH Prince Carol Mircea of Romania, Prince Paul’s father, was buried in the 14th century monastery of Cozia, famous for its original fortress walls , near the Olts river and five km from the town of Calimanesti. Its mayor Mr Amusan collaborated with the monastery to secure the ceremony that attracted three thousand participants. The service was officiated by the Episcopal of Ramnicu Valcea and the Archepiscop Teodosie of Tomisului who came specifically for this historical event. Numerous priests from cities as far as Suceava and Fagaras took part in the service. From Bucharest came the surviving members of the Royal order of King Ferdinand l, the order of Mihai Viteazu. Alll the members wore their official uniform and their signature-white capes.
Inauguration of the bust of Carol I in Sinaia (May 2009)
In 2009, Prince Paul sponsored the installation of a large bronze bust of King Carol I in the city of Sinaia, in the former barracks of the Royal Guards at Peles Castle. Prince Paul and Princess Lia were the guests of honor. A parade was organized by the Gendarmerie. The Minister of the Interior, local dignitaries, and the Inspector General of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Dr. Costica Silion, participated. On this occasion, Dr. Silion presented Prince Paul with a commemorative plaque on behalf of the Gendarmerie in recognition of his efforts regarding the bust of King Carol I of Romania, the first king of the Hohenzollern dynasty.
Ceremony awarding the Prince Paul Foundation for Romania's silver medals of honor
The Prince Paul Foundation for Romania organized a grand ceremony at the Elizabeth Palace in Bucharest to award silver medals of honor, in the presence of General Dragnea and General Pencuic. This palace had belonged to Prince Paul's great-aunt. After his speech, Prince Paul presented the silver medal of honor to eleven generals. He then presented the silver medal commemorating Alba Julia on December 1, 1918, to three generals and seven colonels.
Visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Tincabesti
240 years of fire prevention in Romania
The Firefighters Directorate organized a symposium dedicated to the 240th anniversary of the issuance of the first official document regarding fire prevention in Romania. Prince Paul and Princess Lia were in invited officials with the Minister of Intérieur Cristian David and the Secretary of State Reed Arafat of the Health Ministry. ( mentioned top page 15) . The anniversary is celebrated in the Royal Romanian Atheneum and Prince Paul and Princess Lia as two of the guests of Honor are being greeted by the organizers. ( photo page 14 )
Visit to the retirement home of Suceava
Their Royal Highnesses visited the city of Suceava in northern Romania, accompanied by Archbishop Pimen, head of the church for the entire region. He had requested Prince Paul’s assistance with the retirement home he could not open due to a lack of funds to finance central heating. Thanks to the princes, they were able to purchase a new central heating system in Denmark for 70,000 euros. During their visit, Prince Paul and Princess Lia ensured the residents were well accommodated and benefiting from amenities not typically found in other retirement homes in Romania. The princes were pleased to help bring to fruition the vision of Archbishop Pimen, a man much loved and respected throughout the region.
Visit to Fundu Moldovei
Their Royal Highnesses visited the commune of Fundu Moldovei in Bukovina to offer an accordion to the church. They were accompagnied by their cousins Prince Georg and Princess Madeleine Bentheim und Steinfurt. Princess Madeleine is the godmother of Prince Carol Ferdinand.
Visit to Botosani
Their Royal Highnesses visited Botosani, near Ukraine, at the invitation of Father Candrea and other residents of the town. Their first stop was the Nicolae Iorga High School, named after the renowned writer who authored over 300 books and was the teacher of King Carol II, grandfather of Prince Paul. Father Candrea organized a special Mass and gave them a tour of the famous Vorona Monastery.
Visit to Baia Mare with Mayor Cristian Anghel and Episcop Justinian Chira
The International Rotary Convention in Bucharest
The first recipient of The Worldwide Rotary President’s Leadership Award was bestowed upon HRH Prince Paul of Romania. President Richard King, head of the 1.2 million member business-service organization, selected Prince Paul not only because he has been a prominent businessman in the West for over 30 years but because his Foundation has been named one of the success stories of Eastern Europe with documentable donations of over 3 million dollars worth of new medical equipment, medicines, renovations of schools, scholarship and training seminars for businesswomen.
Beauty pageant in Constanta
A beauty pageant was sponsored and organized in Constanta on the Black Sea coast by the Oriflame company, with Their Royal Highnesses as guests of honor and the participation of Natalia Andrei, winner of the Miss Elle Romania pageant. Miss France 1999, Mareva Galanter, also participated in the event as a guest of the Prince Paul Foundation for Romania.
Inauguration of the bust of Carol II in Vadu Crisului (2015), the village where he landed in 1930 to become king again
Visit aboard the USS Mount Whitney in the port of Constanta
Prince Paul was named Patron of the American Romanian Navy League and was invited aboard the USS Mount Whitneythe Captain of the USS Mount Whitney
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Inauguration of the bust of Queen Marie of Romania
Larry Hagman (JR from Dallas) in Romania
Visit to The Carol I Mountain Center in Sinaia
At the invitation of Inspector General Costila Silion, and accompanied by General (Retired) Dimitru Penciuc, President of AVR-Mira (Veterans' Association), Their Royal Highnesses visited the Romanian Gendarmerie at its mountain rescue center, known as the "Carol I Mountain Center." They were welcomed by these experts who risk their lives to rescue climbers and tourists in danger in the mountains. TRH decided to award prizes and scholarships annually for ten years to the best mountain rescuers. Through his foundation, Prince Paul also funded an expedition of mountering gendarmes to climb Khan Tengri in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kazakhstan. trh attended the departure of this expedition at Otopeni Airport.
A few years later, Prince Paul decided to finance the statue of his ancestor, King Carol I, because this mountain rescue center for the Gendarmerie was located in Sinaia, near Peleș Castle, the seat of the Royal Guards barracks.
Romanian Presidential Elections of 2000
Prince Paul took part in the Presidential Election of 2000 as the candidate of the Partidul Reconcilierii Nationale
Anti cancer campaign with Valerie Campbell
Princess Lia had a lot of success when she launched the anti cancer campaign in Romania with the also well known and beautiful mother of the top model Noemi Campbell , Valerie Campbell.
The British Ambassador to Romania Richard Ralph invited Valerie Campbell to the British Embassy , and Prince Paul offered on this occasion his latest biography of his Grandfather King Carol ll of Romania to the Ambassador . Valerie received a specially made women’s shoe in bronze.
Valerie Campbell made a very nice interview for the English magazine in Romania VIVID , and thanked Princess Lia saying she was proud that Princess Lia had asked her to help launch the Cancer awareness campaign in Romania.
