Europe

Romania: Anne, wife of ex-Romania king to get grand funeral

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Thursday, June 5, 2008 file photo, former Romanian King Michael I, right, and his wife Anne, left, wave from the balcony of the Peles Castle, in Sinaia, Romania. Romania’s royal house says former King Michael, who has cancer, will miss his wife’s funeral on the advice of medics. The Royal House said Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, five doctors had recommended that Michael, 94, not travel to Romania to attend the Aug. 13 funeral of Anne of Romania, his wife of 68 years. (AP Photo/Paul Buciuta, File) (The Associated Press)

Princess Margaret, right, daughter of Romania's last monarch King Michael, stands as her husband Prince Radu of Romania adjusts her scarf, before a religious service as the body of Anne of Romania arrives in Otopeni, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. The body of Anne of Romania, the wife of the country's ex-king, arrived in Bucharest Tuesday for the biggest royal funeral in almost 80 years. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

Princess Margaret, right, daughter of Romania's last monarch King Michael, stands as her husband Prince Radu of Romania, center, adjusts her scarf, before a religious service as the body of Anne of Romania arrives in Otopeni, Romania, Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016. The body of Anne of Romania, the wife of the country's ex-king, arrived in Bucharest Tuesday for the biggest royal funeral in almost 80 years. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) (The Associated Press)

The body of Anne of Romania, the wife of the country's ex-king, is being flown to Bucharest for the biggest royal funeral in almost 80 years.

Anne married Michael six months after communists forced him to abdicate in December 1947, and did not visit Romania until she was almost 70, nor did she speak the language.

Her Aug. 1 death in Switzerland aged 92, however, has provoked an outpouring of grief in the East European country. A day of mourning has been proclaimed in Romania and neighboring Moldova.

She will be laid in state in the Peles Castle in the mountain resort of Sinaia and later in Bucharest.

She will be buried at the Curtea de Arges cemetery of the royal family on Aug. 13.