Radu von Rumänien

2015-04-10T09:03:19Z

82.132.237.169: /* External links */ added recipients for all recipients

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name = Radu Duda
| image = Prince Radu of Romania.JPG
| imgw = 220
| caption = Prince Radu
| full name = Prince Radu of Romania
| spouse = [[Princess Margarita of Romania|Crown Princess Margareta of Romania]]
| house = [[House of Romania]]
| father = Rene Duda
| mother = Gabriela Duda b. Constandache
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|6|7}}
| birth_place = [[Iaşi]], [[Socialist Republic of Romania|Romania]]
}}

'''Prince Radu of Romania''' (born: '''Radu Duda'''; 7 June 1960) is the son-in-law of former [[Michael I of Romania|King Michael I of Romania]]. He was born in [[Iaşi]], Romania. In 1996 he married [[Princess Margarita of Romania]], the king's eldest daughter. On 1 January 1999 he was given the name, not title<ref name = "Farce-english">[http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?page=detalii&categorie=politics&id=20090611-510772 “Radu Duda’s title of Hohenzollern is a farce”], [http://www.nineoclock.ro Nine O'Clock], 12 June 2009</ref><ref name = "Farce">{{ro}} [http://www.cotidianul.ro/karl_friedrich_de_hohenzollern_titlul_de_hohenzollern_al_lui_radu_duda_este_o_farsa-87743.html "Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern: „Radu Duda's Hohenzollern title is a farce“], [[Cotidianul]], 10 June 2009</ref> of "Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen" by [[Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern]], the Head of the [[Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen|Sigmaringen]] branch of the Hohenzollern family. He has also called himself '''Radu Hohenzollern Veringen Duda'''.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=16726&art=40834 "The Actor Duda in The Role of A Lifetime: Prince Consort of Romania]," [[Cotidianul]], 3 January 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.cancelarie.ro/declaratii/Hohenzollern_Veringen_Duda_Radu.pdf 2005 "Income Statement," filled out in Romanian by Hohenzollern Veringen Duda, Radu]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.cancelarie.ro/declaratii/Hohenzollern_Veringen_Duda_Radu_i.pdf 2005 "Interest Statement," filled out in Romanian by Hohenzollern Veringen Duda, Radu]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cancelarie.ro/declavere_h.html "Income Statement", Prime-Minister's Chancellery Website as of 14 July 2006]</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.romimpwatch.org/ro/newsPage.php?id_news=2018 "Public Letter to The SRI Director", Romanian Imprisonment Watch, Visby, Sweden, 17 September 2004]</ref> Since 2007, when he had his legal name changed to "'''Radu al României Duda"''', Radu no longer uses the name of Hohenzollern.<ref name="Name">{{ro}} [http://www.cotidianul.ro/principele_radu_nu_exista_un_candidat_la_presedintie_cu_numele_de_hohenzollern-87915.html Prince Radu: There is no presidential candidate named Hohenzollern], [[Cotidianul]], 11 June 2009</ref>

The new Statute of the Romanian Royal Family,<ref name="Statute">[http://www.familiaregala.ro/upload/p0002_FundamentalRules.pdf Fundamental Rules of the Royal Family of Romania], [http://www.familiaregala.ro/ The Romanian Royal Family website] as retrieved on 8 January 2007</ref> signed by [[Michael I of Romania|former King Michael I of Romania]] on 30 December 2007, made public Radu's title of "Prince of Romania", with the style of "Royal Highness", which King Michael had bestowed upon him earlier on 5 January 2005.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.princeradu.ro/?id2=0005&lng= Prince Radu], [http://www.princeradu.ro/ Prince Radu's website] as of 12 September 2008</ref>

The last Royal Romanian constitution, null and void since 1947, made no provision for the succession of daughters. Titles were always within the award of the King of Romania within his own family before 1947. Radu's title of "Prince of Romania" with the style of "Royal Highness" has been awarded by the former King as Head of the Royal House of Romania. The title granted to Radu al României Duda, is not based in present Romanian law but in the Statute of the Romanian Royal Family, signed by former King Michael I of Romania on 30 December 2007.<ref>{{ro}} [http://www.evz.ro/index.php?zone=articole&task=detalii-articol&item=691797&page=Caricatura-zilei&current_date=2009-06-01 "Teoctist, God's politician"], ''[[Evenimentul Zilei]]'', 5 September 2005</ref> 

Either in the company of his wife Princess Margarita or most often alone,<ref>{{ro}} [http://www.dilemaveche.ro/index.php?nr=120&cmd=articol&id=632 "10 May – Sad Destiny, Memorable Date"], [[Dilema Veche]], 12 May 2006</ref> Prince Radu represents the Royal Family on various occasions.

==Education and work==
{{Romanian Royal Family}}

He graduated from the University of Drama and Film in [[Bucharest]], 1984 and had over 20 years of artistic activity in Romania as well as in Europe, [[Americas|America]], Asia and Africa. He was the Artistic Director of the first project in Romania of art therapy for abandoned children in orphanages. The project, started in 1993, was developed in eight cities over six years.

Prince Radu played a major role in the planning and organisation of the official tours undertaken by [[Michael I of Romania|King Michael I of Romania]] in 1997 and 2002 for the integration of Romania in [[NATO]], as well as creating the concept of the King's "Millennium Tour" in Romania in 2000. In the NATO tours the King visited the United Kingdom, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Luxembourg and The Netherlands, meeting with heads of state and government. He accompanied the King on most of these visits.

In 2002, he graduated from the National College of Defence of Romania, and the George C. Marshall College, [[Garmisch]], Germany. In August 2004 he participated in the two-week Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]] [[Harvard University]].<ref>[http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2006/HRESP/HR0026.html Passed House Resolution R]. In.gov. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/Programs/nis/overview.aspx HKS Executive Education]. Ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref>

In September 2002, he was appointed Special Representative of the Romanian Government for Integration, Co-operation and Sustainable Development. He is also Advisor to HM King Michael I, Patron of the British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Board of Directors of "House of [[NATO]]" Association in Bucharest, and Honorary Member of the Senate of "[[Aurel Vlaicu]]" University of [[Arad, Romania|Arad]] and of the University of [[Oradea]], Romania.

Since 2005, he is a Romanian Army [[Colonel]] and holds a doctorate in Military Science from the National Defence University of [[Bucharest]].

Prince Radu is the author of several books:''Dincolo de mască'' (Bucharest: Unitext, 1997), ''L'Âme du masque'' (Brussels, 1998), ''Război, un exil, o viaţă'' (Bucharest, 2000; translated into English as ''[[Queen Anne of Romania|Anne of Romania]]: A War, an Exile, a Life'', Bucharest: Romanian Cultural Foundation, 2002), ''Michael of Romania: A Tribute'' (San Francisco and Bucharest, 2001), ''Kildine'' (Bucharest, 2003; a translation into Romanian of the fairy-tales book of [[Queen Marie of Romania]]), ''Seven'' (Bucharest: Nemira, 2003), ''The Royal Family of Romania'' (Bucharest: Humanitas, 2004), ''Persona'' (Bucharest: Nemira, 2006), ''The Elisabeta Palace'' (Bucharest: Humanitas, 2006)

Prince Radu lectures and makes speeches in Romania, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Japan, India, Lithuania, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Canada, Poland, the United States, Italy, Jordan, Thailand, Slovenia, Croatia, Azerbaijan, China, Egypt and the United Kingdom. Mr. al României Duda appears regularly on TV and publishes articles in the written press in Romania.

Prince Radu's lectures address topics related to Romania's integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures, defense, and security, geopolitics and diplomacy, culture, economics, and education. He has equally spoken out about the issue of ethnic minorities, in particular about the [[Romani people|Romani]] minority, an important issue for Romania and South Eastern Europe today,<ref>[http://foto.rompres.ro/index.php?i=751966 Prince Radu next to the Roma leader and parliamentarian Mǎdǎlin Voicu and EU representative Jonathan Scheele at a piano concert, 15 May 2006 (foto)]. Foto.rompres.ro (15 May 2006). Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=124&cid=120&cid2=125 Prince Radu and the Roma leader Mǎdǎlin Voicu at a conference about ethnic minorities, 27 January 2006]</ref><ref>[http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=278&cid=132&cid2=145 Prince Radu on his lectures about the Roma minority in "When Royalty Meets Diplomacy"], Prague Magazine, February 2005{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=866&cid=133&cid2=217 "The Roma Minority in Romania and in South-Eastern Europe," by HSH Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen, Chatham House, 5 June 2003]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> through conferences in Romania and around Europe, in countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Finland, etc. His activity report "2005 Annual Report and 2002–2004 Retrospective"<ref>[http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=1285&cid=130 "Annual Report 2005"], Prince Radu website, as of 6 December 2006{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> is available in English and Romanian on his official website.

Prince Radu currently serves on the Board of Advisors to the Global Panel Foundation, a respected NGO that works behind the scenes in crisis areas around the world.<ref>[http://globalpanel.org/boards]</ref>

==Initiatives==

===Europe of Regions===

Prince Radu initiated a project to promote Romania's major interests and to strengthen Romania’s bilateral relations. Its aims are to encourage and promote economic, cultural, and educational partnerships between Romanian regions and different European regions, as well as to raise awareness about Romania through meetings, conferences, and lectures. It will involve Prince Radu visiting up to four different regions a year, meeting local businessmen, political and local administration leaders, university teachers and students, Romanian communities and the press. Regions covered so far are the Italian regions of [[Tuscany]] and [[Sicily]] (provinces of [[Palermo]], [[Caltanisetta]], [[Enna]], and [[Catania]]), the French regions of [[Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur]] and [[Aquitaine]] (Pays Beaumontois). The Europe of Regions initiative will continue with visits to the Lands of Germany, to Spain, and further regions of France and Italy.<ref>[http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=1231&cid=247 Prince Radu]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{it icon}} [http://www.balcanicooperazione.it/dalle_regioni/sicilia_e_romania_a_braccetto_nell_unione_europea Balcani Cooperazione]. Balcanicooperazione.it. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.unict.it/Pagina/Portale/Home/Canali_informativi/Comunicati_stampa/0/2006/09/20/6761_.aspx Comunicati stampa – Università degli Studi di Catania]. Unict.it (20 September 2006). Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>[https://www.provincia.ct-egov.it/moduli/cstampa/cstampas2.asp?id=4241 cstampa – moduli – Provincia Regionale di Catania]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.comune.catania.it/portale/cstampa/cstampas2.asp?id=385 Comune di Catania]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ziua.ro/display.php?id=207612&data=2006-09-21 Stiri pe scurt: ZIUA]</ref><ref>[http://www.mclink.it/com/inform/art/06n10121.htm * Inform *]. Mclink.it. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>[http://www.consiglio.regione.toscana.it/news-ed-eventi/Comunicati-stampa/comunicato/testo_comunicato.asp?id=6856 ]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref>

===The Friendship Tour===

The Friendship Tour is a similar initiative created to promote Romania's major interests, mainly in the United States of America, aiming to encourage, promote, and support Romanian partnerships in the economic, educational, and cultural domains. Visits are planned to 3–4 states each year to meet local businessmen and women, politicians, and local administration, university teachers and students, as well as the Romanian [[diaspora]]. The aim is also to raise awareness about Romania’s potential and to strengthen bilateral relations. The Friendship Tour kicked off with a ten-day visit to the states of [[Illinois]], [[Indiana]], and [[Massachusetts]], during which Prince Radu met with governors, mayors, state congressmen, professors, students, businessmen, journalists, and American citizens of Romanian origin. The Friendship Tour II and The Friendship Tour III plan to reach five other USA states.<ref>[http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php?page=articol&aid=1018&cid=234 Prince Radu]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060225/News01/602250499/-1/NEWS01/CAT=News01 Prince stops in South Bend]. South Bend Tribune (26 December 1991). Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref><ref>http://www.roembus.org/embassynews/2006/22feb_principele_Radu.htm</ref>

==Personality==

In an interview for "Observator Plus,"<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.virtualarad.net/news/2004/va_n260704_ro.htm "Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen: ''To Be Means To Be Recognized''", Observator Plus, 26 July 2004]</ref> Prince Radu talks frankly about himself. He says that during [[Communist Romania|Communism]] he had lived in an amoral world which lacked models and in which it was difficult to have principles. He discovered the latter only when he met King Michael, when he realized that "life can be marked, here and there, by principles." Before that fateful meeting, Radu had had only ideals and "exercises of admiration" towards European or international personalities. In another interview,<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.romanialibera.ro/editie/NEW_SITE/index.php?a=1&fct=1&complet=1&idx=103&tab=z23092006 "Monarchy Is A Form Of Government One Must Love In Order To Exist"], Romania Libera, 23 September 2006</ref> Radu enumerates some of the personalities from Eastern Europe he admires, such as [[Pope John Paul II]], [[Lech Wałęsa]], [[Václav Havel]], and [[Nelson Mandela]]. During Communism, his family represented a source of inspiration for him, because in those corrupt times, they remained honest people. Also, Radu believes that he could not have done things better than he has done in his life so far. He also says that he has very few friends. One of his favorite films is ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'', which he describes as "one of the most moving and emotional, full of inspiration and of truth movies of the last years," and he is an admirer of the movie's "exceptional" star, [[Heath Ledger]], whose premature death he decried.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.princeradublog.ro/?p=1422 ''Heath Ledger''], [http://www.princeradublog.ro/ Prince Radu blog], as retrieved on 28 January 2008</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cancan.ro/2008-01-28/Printul-Duda-il-deplange-pe-Heath-Ledger.html ''Prince Duda decries Heath Ledger''], [http://www.cancan.ro/ Can-Can], 28 January 2008</ref> His favorite singers are [[Pavarotti]], [[José Carreras]], [[Plácido Domingo]], and [[Elton John]].<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.curier.ro/temp/c3795.pdf ''Exclusive interview with His Highness Radu Duda, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen''], [[Curierul zilei]], 31 January 2007</ref>

==Controversies==

===Corruption accusations===

[[BAE Systems]],<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2459780,00.html "Blair hit by Saudi 'bribery' threat,"] [[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]], 19 November 2006</ref> one of the donors to Princess Margarita's charity, and its representatives, have been involved in a corruption scandal regarding the purchase by the Romanian Government of two decommissioned UK [[Royal Navy]] frigates refurbished by BAE, for which an alleged £7 million bribe was paid.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/armstrade/story/0,,1797639,00.html "Bribery inquiry may force £7m refund to Romania," The Guardian, 15 June 2006]. Guardian. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref> Some of this money, it is also alleged, "ended up in the pockets of the [[Romanian Royal Family|royal family of Hohenzollern]]".<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://stiri3.rol.ro/stiri/2006/06/zeama_de_dude.htm "Mulberry Juice"], Gandul, 21 June 2006</ref> The "Gardianul" newspaper,<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.gardianul.ro/2006/06/16/dezvaluiri-c11/bae_sponsor_regal-s80481.html "BAE Royal Sponsor"], Gardianul, 16 June 2006</ref><ref name="Classmate">{{ro icon}} [http://www.gardianul.ro/2006/06/17/dezvaluiri-c11/principele_duda_coleg_la_colegiul_de_aparare_cu_semnatarul_contractului_cu_bae-s80510.html "Prince Duda, Classmate at The National Defence University with The Signer of The BAE Contract", Gardianul, 17 June 2006]</ref> noting that both Margarita and Radu, as Special Representative of the Government, had met a number of times formally or informally with the BAE Systems representatives before and after the signing of the governmental contract, inquired whether the royal family was involved in any lobbying on behalf of the company. In an official communique sent to the newspaper,<ref name="Classmate"/> Radu denied any such lobbying activities, stating that as patron of the British-Romanian Chamber of Commerce in which BAE Systems is a member, he met with this as well as other British companies' representatives.

===Securitate informer===

Prince Radu has been, as are many other prominent public figures, the target of press attacks<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.banateanul.ro/articol/ziar/timisoara/probleme-la-castel/10349/ "Troubles at The Castle"], Banateanul, 3 May 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16772 "Romania's Holocaust Progress in Serious Question" by Richard Carlson and Richard Gooding, Front Page Magazine, 28 January 2005]. Frontpagemag.com. Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref> of having been an informer of [[Communist Romania]]'s dreaded<ref>[http://www.birn.eu.com/en/1/180/3014/ "Securitate Ghosts Haunt Romanian Politics,"] Balkan Insight, 30 June 2006</ref><ref>[http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/8839.html "A Romanian Looks at Her Secret File (Why Few Do)," London Daily Telegraph, 2 December 2004]</ref><ref>[http://www.axisglobe.com/news.asp?news=10192 "007 News," AXIS INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS, 3 January 2007]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref><ref>[http://www.rri.ro/arh-art.shtml?lang=1&sec=9&art=2623 "Having or Not Having Collaborated with the Securitate"] [http://www.rri.ro/index.shtml?lang=1 Radio Romania International], 4.06.2007</ref> secret police [[Securitate]] during [[Nicolae Ceauşescu]]'s dictatorship.

''Căminul românesc'' magazine from [[Geneva]]<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.adevarulonline.ro/2006-10-13/Prima%20Pagina/franck-un-securist-in-casa-regala_202008.html "Franck: A Securitate Man in The Royal House"], Adevarul, 13 October 2006</ref><ref>[http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1098 "Eurasian Secret Services Daily Review," AXIS INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS, 16.10.2006]{{dead link|date=November 2011}}</ref> published an article by Nicolette (Nicoleta) Franck, a journalist close to King Michael, about whom she wrote many books.<ref>[http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19780401fabook14479/nicolette-franck/la-roumanie-dans-l-engrenage.html La Roumanie dans l'Engrenage. Nicolette Franck. Paris and Brussels: Elsevier Sequoia, 1977, 269 pp. – review by Foreign Affairs, April 1978]. Foreignaffairs.org (1 April 1978). Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref> The article alleged that Radu Duda was a Securitate agent infiltrated in the Royal House so as to compromise it, on orders from [[Ion Iliescu]], the former high ranking Communist president of Romania and allegedly friend of Radu's father, also a former high ranking Communist. No proof of these allegations was offered.

In an article published by ''[[Adevărul]]'' daily, Prince Radu denied allegations of his supposed involvement with the Securitate: "I have not collaborated with the Securitate…in 1986 there was an attempt to recruit me. I refused politely and I was never contacted again."<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.adevarulonline.ro/2006-09-01/Prima%20Pagina/principele-radu-in-malaxorul-dosarelor_196842.html "Prince Radu Caught in the Files Grinder"], Adevărul, 1 September 2006</ref> The article revealed that in 1989 Radu’s name was found on a list of 1,000+ people entitled "support persons" of the Securitate. In another interview for the same daily,<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.adevarulonline.ro/2006-09-02/Prima%20Pagina/am-inceput-demersul-legal-pentru-a-dovedi-ca-n-am-colaborat_196927.html "Prince Radu: I Have Begun Legal Procedures To Prove I Was Not An Informer", Adevărul, 2 September 2006]</ref> Radu explained that in 1986 he had been asked by the Securitate to collaborate due to his successful career as an actor: "Everybody who was somebody knew that there was this risk" to be called upon by Securitate to become an informer. At that time Radu had been working on an Iaşi stage as a theater graduate for two years and was about to go on his second and last theater tour abroad to Israel,<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/640165/Radu-Duda-principele-din-guvern/ "Radu Duda, The Prince in The Government"], Evenimentul Zilei, 28 January 2004</ref> accompanying two renowned Romanian actors. The former head of the local Iaşi branch of Securitate explained in an interview<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=6786&art=17152&cHash=a223811804 "Prince Radu on The List of Secu' Supporters"], Cotidianul, 2 September 2006</ref> that a "support person" such as Duda and the other people on the 1,000+ list were not informers, did not sign any agreement with the Securitate, nor did they receive money, but were Communist Party members, in particular people who traveled abroad, targeted by the Securitate with the Party's approval to carry out well-defined missions for a limited period of time. He also confirmed in a subsequent interview<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/430570/Cum-il-informa-Secu-pe-Iliescu/ "How Secu informed Iliescu"], Evenimentul Zilei, 16 February 2007</ref> that the list in question is real.

It has also been reported<ref>[http://evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/636756/The-Watchtower-The-king-and-the-jester/ "The King and The Jester"], Evenimentul Zilei, 18 December 2003. Evz.ro (22 December 1989). Retrieved on 29 November 2011.</ref> that "many of the royal family's supporters have stopped offering financial aids after Radu Duda joined the Royal House. Wealthy Romanians in exile, who have been surveyed by the communist era political police Securitate even in subway stations, considered the compromise as intolerable."

===Royalty Magazine article legal case===
In 2005 Prince Radu sued Marco Houston and Sena Julia Publicatus the publishers of Royalty Magazine. The case arose due to an article that was published in the magazine in 2004. On 15 July 2010, Prince Radu obtained a Statement in Open Court<ref name="Statement">[http://www.carter-ruck.com/Documents//Prince_Radu-SiOC.pdf Statement in Open Court], submitted by Marco Houston, solicitor Guy Davis representing Houston in the High Court of London, 16 July 2010.</ref> from Marco Houston, editor of [[Royalty Magazine]], acknowledged that all the accusations were untrue, that Prince Radu was never a member or collaborator of the Securitate, and that this should never have been published. The statement also confirmed that the Collegium of the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives has found Prince Radu did not support in any way the Securitate.

===Princely title===

On 1 January 1999, [[Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Hohenzollern]], granted Radu an ''ad personam'' "name" of "Prinz von Hohenzollern-Veringen".<ref name="Senator">[http://www.princeradu.ro/?id2=000200040016&lng=1 ''The Prime Minister proposed Radu Duda a seat as a Senator of the Democrat Social Party (ruling party in Romania),''] [[Mediafax]] news agency, 6 August 2004</ref> In August 2004, representatives of Friedrich Wilhelm's eldest son [[Karl Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern]], accused Radu of using the Hohenzollern name without permission as well as of having demanded "considerable" sums of money from whoever may be interested in buying it.<ref name="Senator"/> Karl Friedrich also warned Radu that the Hohenzollern family would take "legal measures" in case these things were to happen again and demanded that he cease to use the title of "Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen". In a 2009 interview, Karl Friedrich re-iterated these demands and stated that his father has no right to issue titles in a republic, calling Radu's title "of Hohenzollern-Veringen" a "farce."<ref name = "Farce-english"/><ref name = "Farce"/> Since then King Michael has severed all ties with the former House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ordering that all such titles once used were no longer appropriate for use by any member of the Romanian Royal House.

===Military rank===

Some sources<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=7849&art=20183&cHash=4a3b257e9b "The Fascinating Military Rise of Prince Hohenzollern Duda"], Cotidianul, 11 November 2006</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cronicaromana.ro/opinii-in-contrasenspenalizari-si-autopenalizari.html "Penalties and Self-penalties"], Cronica Romana, 11 November 2006</ref> have contested the legality of Radu's rapid rise in the Romanian Army from a reserve lieutenant (locotenent-major in Romanian) to the rank of active colonel in much less time than that prescribed for ordinary advancements. The former Chief of Army Staff has argued that his activation was done at Radu's own request, while his promotion was granted for "extraordinary" merits, such as Radu's lobby for Romania's admission into NATO. Radu's official response argues, however, that his own activation was not as result of any unilateral request, but of a joint request of both the Royal House and the Defence Ministry.

==Political support==

Between September 2002 and September 2008, Prince Radu maintained an official position as Special Representative of the Romanian Government under two successive administrations, that of the centre-left [[Social Democratic Party (Romania)|Partidul Social Democrat]] (PSD) coalition government as well as that of the centre-right [[Justice and Truth Alliance]] coalition government. Meanwhile the main [[monarchist|pro-monarchist]] party [[Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party (Romania)|Christian-Democratic National Peasants' Party]] (PNŢCD), which holds no seats in the parliament, has been rejecting any role for him or Princess Margarita in a restored monarchy.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.ziua.ro/display.php?data=2002-03-01&id=84650 "PNŢCD Plans The Restoration of Monarchy through Prince Nicholas"], Ziua, 1 March 2002</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/538501/PNTCD-cauta-un-Rege/ "PNŢCD Is Looking for A King"], Evenimentul Zilei, 1 March 2002</ref> In 2003, however, the [[Cluj County|Cluj]] branch of PNŢCD officially invited Princess Margarita to be its candidate to the Senate in the upcoming elections.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.zf.ro/articol_28580/principesa_margareta__invitata_sa_candideze.html "Princess Margareta Invited to Run for Office"], Ziarul Financiar, 24 July 2003
</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://evz.ro/articole/detalii-articol/623146/Principesa-la-Senat/ "The Princess in The Senate"], Evenimentul Zilei, 25 July 2003</ref> The current [[president of Romania]] [[Traian Băsescu]] does not appreciate Prince Radu<ref name="TPIAOTRH">[http://www.jurnalul.ro/articole/124462/the-president-is-afraid-of-the-royal-house! "The President is afraid of the Royal House!"], [[Jurnalul National]], 13 May 2008</ref> and thinks he is detrimental to the Romanians' public perception of the idea of monarchy.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.gandul.info/politic/doi-ani-basescu-iliescu-au-sarit-iubire-ura.html?3928;312026 "In two years, Basescu and Iliescu jumped from love to hatred"], [[Gândul]], 15 May 2007</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.cotidianul.ro/index.php?id=10747&art=28744 "Basescu said Iliescu knew he would be accused of genocide"], [[Cotidianul]], 15 May 2007</ref> The Romanian historian and avowed monarchist [[Neagu Djuvara]] also considers Radu as detrimental, as an "undertaker" to the cause of the Romanian monarchy.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.ziare.com/politica/guvern/monarhia-intre-curaj-si-lasitate-sondaj-ziare-com-1055294 "Monarchy – Between Courage and Cowardness. Opinion Poll by Ziare.com"], as retrieved on 8 December 2010</ref> On 17 September 2008 Radu resigned his governmental position.

In a 2004 poll conducted by the PSD,<ref>''SDP Trails its Leader With 7% of the Votes'', [[Jurnalul National]], 18 August 2004</ref> of whose coalition government he was at that time the Special Representative, Prince Radu scored just 3.4% as a potential candidate in the upcoming Romanian presidential elections. In a more recent 2006 opinion poll<ref>[http://ziua.net/display.php?data=2006-05-04&id=198892 Romanians' view on monarchy], Ziua, 4 May 2006</ref> taken by an institute affiliated with the Royal House in running many of its public events<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://ue.mae.ro/index.php?lang=ro&id=31&s=22934&arhiva=true The Royal House launched the program "Romanian – A 30 year vision"], Foreign Affairs Ministry website, as of 3 November 2007</ref> and its hospitality management school,<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.princeradu.ro/index.php/rss2.php?id2=000100080003&lng= The Elisabeth Palace soirees from 2002 until today], [http://www.princeradu.ro/ the website of Prince Radu], as of 4 March 2008</ref><ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.irecson.ro/news/index.php?id2=010001001 ''A prestigious presence in Bucharest – Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) – Switzerland''], [http://www.irecson.ro/ Irecson website], retrieved on 4 March 2008</ref> 48.80% of those questioned answered that it would be good for Prince Radu to accept a state function, while 46.41% were of the opposite opinion. The same 2006 poll showed that 66% of the Romanians interviewed would like to see a more active involvement of the Royal House in the democratisation and development of Romania. In a 2008 poll, Radu was preferred as president of Romania by 2.6% of the Romanian electorate.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.adevarul.ro/articole/sondaj-basescu-ramane-pe-locul-intai-in-preferintele-electoratului/342008 ''Poll: Basescu remains on the first position in the electorate's preferences''], [[Adevarul]], 20 February 2008</ref> In the presence of Princess Margareta, Prince Radu announced his candidacy for the Romanian Presidency in a press conference at the [[Elisabeta Palace]] in Bucharest, Romania, on 9 April 2009.<ref>[http://alina_stefanescu.typepad.com/romania_revealed/2009/04/prince-radu-is-running-for-president.html Romania Revealed: Prince Radu is running for President]</ref> Five months later, on 2 September 2009, he retracted his candidacy.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.princeradublog.ro/jurnal/cum-stau-lucrurile-astazi/ "The state of things today"], princeradublog.ro, 2 September 2009</ref>

==Titles, styles, honours and awards==
{{infobox hrhstyles|royal name=Prince Radu of Romania|image=[[File:Royal Monogram of Prince Radu of Romania.svg|centre|70px]]
|dipstyle=[[Royal Highness|His Royal Highness]]|offstyle=Your Royal Highness|altstyle=Sir
}}

;Titles
*'''7 June 1960 – 21 September 1996''': ''Mr'' Radu Duda
*'''21 September 1996 - 1 January 1999''': ''His Royal Highness'' Prince Radu
*'''1 January 1999 - 30 December 2007''': ''His Royal Highness'' Prince Radu, Prince of Hohenzollern-Veringen
*'''30 December 2007 - Present''': ''His Royal Highness'' Radu, Prince of Romania<ref>http://www.familiaregala.ro/ro/familia-regala-astazi/prezentare/</ref>

;National dynastic honours
* {{flagicon|Romania}} [[House of Romania]]: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Carol I]]<ref>http://www.romaniaregala.ro/atitudini/point-de-vue-28-mai-3-iunie-2014/</ref>

;National state honours
* {{flag|Romania}}: Medal of the [[Order For Merit]]<ref>http://www.princeradu.ro/news/761/23/Principele-Radu-a-fost-distins-cu-Medalia-de-Onoare-EFIRO-2008/</ref>
* {{flag|Romania}}: Colonel badge of the [[Romanian Armed Forces]]<ref>http://www.nps.edu/pao/photogallery/Details.asp?img=355</ref>

;Foreign honours
* {{flag|Czech Republic}}: Medal of the [[Cross of Merit of the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic|Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence]]<ref>http://www.familiaregala.ro/news/4147/53/Medalia-de-argint-a-Ministerul-Afacerilor-Externe-al-Republicii-Cehe-inmanata-Principesei-Margareta-�-i-Principelui-Radu/</ref>

;Award
* {{flag|Romania}}: [[Honorary citizenship|Honorary Citizen]] of the [[Cluj County]]<ref>http://www.cjcluj.ro/principesa-margareta-si-principlele-radu-cetateni-de-onoare-ai-clujului/</ref>

==Filmography==
* ''[[Laissez-passer (film)|Laissez-passer]]'' (2002) .... Andrejew
* ''[[Ciocârlia (film)|Ciocârlia]]'' (2002) ([[Television movie|TV]]) ....
* ''[[Capitaine Conan]]'' (1996) .... Insp. Stefanesco

==See also==
* [http://www.princeradu.ro Personal webpage]
* An [http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=16772 article] about Radu Duda signed by a former US Ambassador, [[Voice of America]] director, and member of the U.S. delegation to the annual US-USSR Information Talks in Moscow and Washington, D.C., well-informed about ex-communist countries, [http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies_show.htm?doc_id=160038 Richard Carlson].
* An [http://ro.novopress.info/?p=266 article] about Radu Duda's title and political activity.
* {{IMDb name|1089576|Radu Duda}}

==References==
{{Citation style|date=September 2009}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.princeradu.ro/en/home Prince Radu's official website]
* {{ro}} [http://www.princeradublog.ro Prince Radu's blog]
* {{ro}} [http://www.familiaregala.ro The Romanian Royal Family's official website]

{{Romanian princes}}

{{Persondata 
| NAME = Duda, Radu
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Romanian prince
| DATE OF BIRTH = 7 June 1960
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Iaşi]], [[Socialist Republic of Romania|Romania]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Radu of Romania, Prince}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Iași]]
[[Category:Romanian princes]]
[[Category:House of Romania]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Carol I|Radu]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Carol I]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Radu von Rumänien