Interviewing HRH Prince Paul of Romania
by Claudiu Ionescu
Your Royal Highness, when were you initiated? I became a mason in Florida in 2002, and in 2003 I was initiated in the Royal Order of Scotland. I had the honor and the pleasure that the Lord Elgin be present at my initiation into the Royal Order of Scotland, which took place in New York. I was initiated into the York and the Scottish Rites in Florida.What determined you to take that step into Masonry? A good German friend introduced me to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Florida. I liked what masons do there, I was impressed by the attitude toward suffering that masons take in the USA, there are hospitals belonging to masons there. American Masonic life is somewhat different from what happens in Europe, where Masonry is much more discreet and less socially involved. I have never advertised the fact that I am a mason. I am more of a European than an American in this regard. Do you have masons in your family? My father became a mason in 1961. At that time, we had a property in Dorset, in England. When he left for London, he continued his Masonic life. I remember that Mondays he would go to meetings with his Brethren. I have kept the documents and Regalia of my father. I had the pleasure of making the Duke of Kent’s acquaintance, who is the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England. We are relatives, but I do not know precisely to what degree, as I am great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria. The royal family of Romania has intersected throughout time with Masonry? The royal family has often benefited from Masonic counseling. The masons were a sort of moral advisers. Carol I and Nicholas, when he was a regent prince, were advised by masons. As you know, Carol I wanted to remain neutral in the First World War, seeing as how the German Emperor – the Kaiser was the one who had supported Romania, I am referring to the brilliant victory against the Turks at Plevna, for example. Carol I, being a freemason, thus a man of great honor, was now forced to fight against the Germans. He was so honorable that, with his masonic training, he wanted to abdicate. He even signed a document of abdication. That is one part of history, I think, in which, in a very moral way, the Masonic spirit was involved. What is a normal day in your life? It is very agitated, as you can see. This adorable child, the Prince Carol-Ferdinand, occupies very much of our time. He is the first prince that was born here after nearly 90 years, in Romania. This country, that was communist for half a century, now allows the birth of a prince. I consider the birth of this baby a beautiful fact of our history. Where did you meet your wife? I met Princess Lia 16 ago in London, at a reception organized for UNICEF by my cousin, Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia, a fundraiser following the war between Croatia and Serbia. We were married in 1996 in the Cașin monastery. Father Galeriu and the Bishop Vicențiu united our destinies. Princess Lia worked in the White House, for special projects, under President Carter’s administration. So we try to offer positive publicity internationally, without being part of politics, without being paid by the government. For example, we – Princess Lia and myself – were the only people in Eastern Europe invited to the inauguration ceremony for President Obama. I have been given to understand that, in order to represent Romania, one must be part of a party. But I want to represent Romania without being part of any party! Finally, I would like to ask your opinion on this matter, do people still need Masonry as they did in the past? I believe that nowadays, when there is so much propaganda against the institutions of patriotism, against the institutions of government, against law and order, against respect for the traditions of a country, more than ever do we need that which the Masonic spirit brings, we need the strength of Jacques de Molay and of the Templar Knight spirit.
Copyright Masonic Forum
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