Albania’s Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia announce shock divorce
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Albania have stunned royal watchers with the announcement of their divorce.
Prince Leka II tied the knot with actress and singer Elia Zharaia in a lavish wedding at the (former) Royal Palace of Tirana on October 8 in 2016 after first meeting eight years earlier.
In an official statement posted on Leka’s Instagram account on Tuesday, it was revealed the pair had decided to part ways.
Leka and Elia on their wedding day in 2016. Picture: Alamy
“Hello friends and lovers,” began the message, written under the royal coat of arms, which has been translated into English.
“Through this post, I officially inform you that LTM Prince Leka and Elia Zharaia have agreed to end their marriage. Since marriage has lost its function, they have decided to resolve it with mutual consent by starting 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 have as its motive the growth and education of LSM Princess Geraldine!!!”
Leka shared a statement announcing the split on social media. Picture: Alamy
He declared that their young daughter, Geraldine, would remain their priority. Picture: Alamy
Leka and Elia’s daughter is three years old and named in honour of Queen Geraldine, who died 18 years prior to her great-granddaughter’s birth.
The statement also said the prince would not be offering further comment and requested privacy.
According to Hello! magazine, Elia also shared a since-deleted statement on social media, in which she thanked her followers for their “kindness” amid a “difficult” period.
“Friends and well wishers, I need to inform you that today we started the legal procedures for the settlement of marriage, as we jointly decided to seek a divorce,” it read.
It’s not clear how long the couple has been separated, but last October, Leka was pictured solo at the royal wedding of Princess Maria Francisca de Braganza and Duarte de Sousa Araujo Martins in Portugal.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM
