Updated

Romanians and Moldovans are observing a national day of mourning ahead of the burial of Anne of Romania, the wife of Michael, the last king of Romania.

Orthodox and Catholic priests held services Saturday in Bucharest at the Royal Palace before Anne's body began its journey to its burial site in the central Romanian town of Curtea de Arges.

Anne died at 92 in Switzerland and her body has lain in state this week in Romania. Anne first visited the country when she was nearly 70 and did not speak the language. Yet many respect her for 68-year marriage to Michael, whom she wed months after the communists forced him to abdicate in 1947.

Michael, 94, has cancer and will not attend the funeral on the advice of doctors.