Leka Anwar Zogu Reza

Prince Leka of the Albanians (Leka Anwar Zog Reza Baudouin Msiziwe Zogu, born 26 March 1982) is the only child of the late Leka, Crown Prince of Albania, and the late Susan Cullen-Ward. Prince Leka is an official at the Albanian Ministry of Interior and in the past has served at the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The prince is referred by some Albanian monarchists as King Leka II, since the death of his father, whom they referred to as Leka I. In May 2010, the Prince was engaged to Elia Zaharia,^[1] an Albanian actress and singer. On 30 November 2011, he succeeded as head of the House of Zogu, titular King of the Albanians, and 3rd Sovereign Head of the Order of Besa and of the Order of Skanderbeg, upon the death of his father.

Early life

Leka is the son of the late pretender to Albania's throne, Crown Prince Leka I, and his wife Susan Cullen-Ward.

He was born on 26 March 1982, at 13:43, Johannesburg, South Africa, “Sandton Clinic”. The clinic was proclaimed for 24 hours “Albanian territory”, by the South African government. South African government declared his maternity ward temporarily Albanian territory to ensure that Leka was born on Albanian soil.^[2] He was named in honor of Egyptian president Anwar El Sadat, his grandfather King Zog I, Shah Mohammad-Rezā Shāh Pahlavi of Iran, and Baudouin I, King of the Belgians (his godfather). Msiziwe is a Zulu honorific. Leka is a member of the Zogu dynasty founded by King Zog and also is a hereditary bey (Albanian tribal chieftain and traditional land owner) of the Gheg clan.

Education and current activities

Leka's secondary school education took place at St Peter's College, Johannesburg. In December 2006, he graduated from Sandhurst Military Academy, United Kingdom, as the “Best foreign student of the Academy”.^[3] He was subsequently congratulated by the Albanian Minister of Defense for this achievement. He also has completed studies at the Università per Stranieri in Perugia, Italy, for the Italian Language. He subsequently has also completed training at the Albanian Military Academy Skanderbej. He is studying international relations.^[4]

Prince Leka, who was featured in the cover story, "Young and Royal", of Vanity Fair in September 2003, resides in Tirana, is fluent in Albanian, and English, and also speaks some Zulu and Italian. He owns boxer dogs and his personal interests include martial arts, volleyball and swimming. He is also fond of wildlife and leads a very active life, taking part in and supporting mountain climbing and other outdoor sports, such as abseiling and target shooting.

In April 2004 Prince Leka accepted the Mother Teresa Medal in behalf of his late grandmother, Queen Géraldine, for her humanitarian efforts.^[5]

Prince Leka is known to have worked with youth organizations, like MJAFT!, and supported a wide range of humanitarian efforts in Albania, but maintains that he only supports "self-help" projects to stimulate Albanian and Kosovar economic growth, Gazeta Sot.

Prince Leka is also known as a supporter of Kosovo independence from Serbia and has close ties with the Kosovo leadership in Pristina. Iliria Royal University in Pristina and Tirana is styled as regal and functions under his guidance.

Prince Leka also founded the Youth leadership of the "Movement for National Development" which was a movement created by his father to change the political face of Albania in 2005.

After the election Albanian presidential election in 2012 of Bujar Nishani as president, Leka was appointed as political adviser to President.^[6]

Career in Albanian leadership

On 21 August 2007 the Foreign Minister of Albania, Mr. Lulzim Basha, announced that Prince Leka II had been appointed to his office. The prince intended to pursue a career in diplomacy.^[7] After two years he transferred to the office of the Minister of Interior. Since 2011 Lulzim Basha has been Mayor of Tirana. Prince Leka II is the President of the Albanian Golf Federation.