Crown Prince Leka II of Albania has tied the knot with Blerta Celibashi in a small, private ceremony at Apponyi Castle in Slovakia.
The happy news follows a tumultuous few years for the 43-year-old royal, who announced his divorce from his wife of eight years, Elia Zaharia, in a series of events that were anything but smooth.
Leka and Elia, who were married in 2016 and share five-year-old Princess Geraldine together, announced their separation in January 2024, citing that the union had ‘lost its function’.
Following their separation, the former couple were ordered to keep five metres from each other following an alleged incident of domestic violence, and Leka was told he can only see his daughter in the presence of a nanny.
Seven months after news of the divorce broke, Leka debuted his new girlfriend, wedding photographer Blerta, at a gala dinner.
Sunday’s ceremony, where Blerta sported a two-piece, white co-ord, marked a clear shift from Leka’s extravagant first wedding.
Despite being a claimant to a now-defunct throne following the dissolution of the Albanian monarchy in 1943, the prince and his ex-glamorous wife had won over the public’s hearts from the moment they wed eight years ago.
Over 20 royal families from across the world, including Prince Michael of Kent, who is the second cousin of King Charles, attended the lavish ceremony.
Crown Prince Leka II of Albania and Blerta Celibashi tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on Sunday
In a translation statement released at the time of their separation, a spokesman maintained that Princess Geraldine remained the centre of the parents’ attention, while also pleading with ‘well-wishers’ to respect the family’s privacy.
The message read: ‘Hello friends and well-wishers, by means of this post I officially inform you that Prince Leka and Elia Zaharia have agreed to end their marriage.
‘Since the marriage has lost its function, they saw the way to resolve it by mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures.
‘Despite the trust in the institution of the family, Prince 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 Princess Geraldine.’
‘[The] spiritual and physical well-being of the girl will remain at the center of their attention, dedicated to ensuring a happy and safe life for Geraldine.’
The statement also said the prince would not be offering any further comment at this time – and requested that his ‘right to privacy be respected regarding this matter’.
However, months later in March, news came that Leka sought police intervention following an alleged incident of domestic violence involving his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law.
A video surfaced online of Leka allegedly involved in a physical altercation with Elia and her father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia.
The pair wed in a private ceremony to preserve the relationship’s ‘intimate’ character, a statement read
Prince Leka of Albania and Princess Elia announced their separation in January. Seen with their daughter Princess Geradine in 2021
The Palace issued a statement after a clip of the fight surfaced online and claimed Leka was ‘physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law’ and had handed the video to the police as evidence.
Elia broke her silence on the ‘terrible’ conflict and claimed her involvement in the fight was merely her trying to stop it, according to Albanian Daily News.
The glamorous mother of one claimed that she returned home to find Prince Leka in a tussle with her then-73-year-old father.
‘It is a very difficult situation for me and my family, as it is not easy to return home and find Leka trying to violate my 73-year-old father,’ she wrote.
‘The conflict has nothing to do with me, except that I tried to stop it. I am following the judicial path for everything,’ she added.
The Albanian royal court similarly issued a statement about the conflict via social media channels, and accused police of leaking the footage.
The statement read: ‘Prince Leka on the afternoon of March 5 was physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law and the videos of this moment have been made public on social networks.
‘The videos have been submitted only to the police station by Prince Leka ll Zogu, as material evidence for violence inflicted on him. But despite being considered a secret, these materials, together with the statement, circulated widely on social networks and in the media transmitting unpleasant images and with violent content.
‘The Royal Court deeply expresses disappointment with law enforcement institutions that we suspect have violated the right to anonymity by distributing third-party videos.
‘The Royal Court also seeks the intervention of the police and relevant institutions for deleting these images from social networks and media.’
Shortly after, a court ruled that Crown Prince Leka II and his ex-wife must keep a distance of five metres from each other following an alleged incident of domestic violence.
The Civil Court of Tirana signed two protection orders for Leka and Princess Elia Zaharia following an alleged physical altercation between the former couple and Elia’s father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia, 73.
The court ruling followed a video that surfaced online of Leka allegedly involved in a physical tussle with Elia and her 73-year-old father.
The couple, who were married in 2016 in the European nation’s second ever royal wedding and the first since the end of communism, welcomed their daughter in 2020 at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana.
They named their daughter Geraldine – a meaningful tribute to the little one’s paternal great-grandmother, Queen Geraldine, who died on October 22, 2002, 18 years to the day before her namesake’s birth.
Queen Geraldine was married to King Zog I, who was the first monarch of Albania after it gained independence from the Ottoman Empire but fled his homeland in 1939 when Italy’s fascists occupied the Balkan state.
Despite the monarchy having been dissolved, Zog’s son King Leka I remained head of the House of Zogu and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 and was succeeded by his only son, Leka II.
The Crown Prince, who attended Royal Military College Sandhurst and has worked as an adviser to Albania’s president, took over his father as head of the House of Zogu, and titular King of the Albanians.
As Leka II currently does not have any sons, his current heir presumptive is Skënder Zogu, his first cousin once removed.
Leka II and Elia, who were engaged in Paris in 2010, also presided over the Queen Geraldine Foundation.
The prince has also worked as an adviser within the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Albanian Presidents Office, while the princess works at the Albanian National Theatre.
Albania’s royal family was expelled from the country in 1939 after it was invaded by Italian fascists.
After World War II, when the Communists took over the country, King Zog and his family were considered traitors and stripped from power completely and removed from history books.
Following their exile, the Albanian royal family spent time in Greece and Turkey before settling in England, where they briefly resided at The Ritz in London.
King Zog and his family then moved to Egypt before the monarch spent the remainder of his life in France.
After Leka and Blerta exchanged vows on Sunday, the Royal Communications released a statement announcing the happy news that read, when translated to English: ‘The Royal Court of Albania has the special pleasure of announcing the marriage of His Royal Highness, Leka II, Prince of the Albanians, to Miss Blerta Celibashi.
‘The marriage was celebrated in a private ceremony, preserving its intimate and solemn character.
‘The official photograph published on this occasion was taken at the Apponyi Castle in Slovakia. The selection of this historic setting, residence of the noble family of Her Majesty Queen Geraldine, was made to honor her precious heritage and Hungarian origin, which remains an inseparable part of the history of the Albanian Royal Family.
‘After the marriage, Princess Blerta will bear the family surname Zogu and the title Princess of the Albanians.
‘The Royal Family shares this joyful news with the Albanian nation and with its friends around the world.’
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.celebrity.land.co.uk ’
