Queen Anne of Romania’s body will be brought to Romania on Tuesday, August 9, the Royal House has announced. The funeral will take place on August 13.

The coffin will arrive at the Otopeni Airport near Bucharest at 15:15 and will then be taken to the Peles Castle in Sinaia mountain resort by car. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Margareta and the royal family will attend the event. However, the public’s access is denied.

The Queen’s body will be placed in Peles Castle’s Hall of Honor from August 9, 17:00 until August 10, 18:30. The Crown Princess and the royal family will also be in Sinaia in this period.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps, the European Union, NATO, and International Organizations are expected to present their condolences at the Peles Castle on August 10, as well as representatives of state institutions, the Presidential institution, the Republic of Moldova Presidency, members of the Governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, members of the two countries’ Parliaments, representatives of the Romanian Academy and the State Academy of Republic of Moldova, and representatives of the Orthodox Church and other religious institutions.

Neither the public nor the press will be allowed in the Hall of Honor in this period.

On Wednesday evening, Queen Anne’s body will be transported to the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace in Bucharest. The ceremony will be private. All those who want to bring flowers to Queen Anne’s bier can do so on Thursday, August 11, and Friday, August 12, between 08:00 and 22:00. However, they will have to respect some rules: wear dark clothes, not carry large bags of any kind, not be accompanied by children under 7 or baby carriages, not take pictures, and have an ID.

Moreover, no one will be able to take the flowers personally to the bier. All the flowers will be placed in the garden in front of the Royal Palace or on the sidewalk. The Royal House staff will guide the public.

Also, people are advised not to bring books, letters, photos or any such documents to the Palace. They can send them later by mail to Elisabeta Palace. Smoking and talking on the phone are strictly banned. A first-aid point will also be operational at the Palace.

On Saturday, August 13, 10:55, Queen Anne’s body will be placed outside the Palace, where a religious ceremony will be organized. Then, the body will be transported by car to Curtea de Arges, where the funeral ceremony will take place at 15:00. The ceremony will be private.

Queen Anne will be buried at the new Royal Archdiocesan Cathedral in Curtea de Arges, which is next to the famous Curtea de Arges Monastery, where Romania's kings and queens have their resting place.

Queen Anne of Romania died on August 1, aged 92. Romania’s Government is considering declaring August 13 a day of national mourning.

Queen Anne of Romania, the woman who stood besides King Michael I for 68 years

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Familia Regala a Romaniei on Facebook)