Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia lived a life full of both privilege and hardship. As a member of the Yugoslav royal family, she was born into status and wealth. However, her royal life was cut short by the turmoil of World War II, which forced her into exile as a young child. Elizabeth's fascinating life story intersected with some of the most dramatic events of 20th century European history. Her early life unfolded against the backdrop of an ancient monarchy on the brink of dissolution. As Yugoslavia suffered first Nazi invasion then communist takeover, the royal family was ousted from power and fled into permanent exile. Elizabeth grew up navigating both the freedoms of life abroad as well as the pain of separation from her homeland. As she entered adulthood, Elizabeth charted her own course by marrying the man she loved rather than following dynastic obligations. The marriage caused friction within royal circles but introduced great happiness into Elizabeth's life. She raised two daughters and traveled extensively while maintaining connections to her royal roots. Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia represents both the privileges and pitfalls of royal birth. Her life was one of luxury and status but also upheaval, wandering, and dynastic disruptions. Yet through it all, she maintained a strong sense of dignity and devotion to her family heritage.
Early Life in Exile
Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia was born on 7 April 1936 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia to Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princess Olga of Greece and Denmark. As a member of the House of Karađorđević, she was part of the Yugoslavian royal family. However, her early life was marked by exile. In 1941, when Elizabeth was just 5 years old, the Yugoslav royal family was forced to flee Belgrade when the country was invaded by Nazi Germany (1). Elizabeth and her family found refuge in Kenya, where they would live in exile for much of World War II.
Marriage and Family
In 1956, Princess Elizabeth married Howard Oxenberg, an American businessman and writer, in a civil ceremony in Paris. The marriage caused some controversy at the time, as Elizabeth failed to obtain authorization for the marriage from her cousin Prince Regent Peter II of Yugoslavia. Nonetheless, the marriage produced two daughters for the couple: Christina Maria, born in 1957, and Catherine Oxenberg, born in 1961. Catherine would go on to become an actress, starring in the popular 1980s soap opera Dynasty (2).
Later Years
After their marriage, Princess Elizabeth and Howard Oxenberg divided their time between the United States and Europe. Elizabeth maintained connections to her royal heritage, attending events like the weddings of Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia in 1985 and King Constantine II of Greece in 1964. However, she lived primarily as a private citizen. She passed away in 2019 at the age of 83 at her home in New York City (3). She is remembered fondly as a link to the defunct royal dynasty of Yugoslavia.
Exile During World War II
When Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Yugoslavia in 1941 during World War II, the royal family was forced to flee for safety. Five-year-old Princess Elizabeth escaped with her family members over mountains on foot to reach Greece. From there, they went to Jerusalem, then Cape Town, South Africa, and finally settled in Kenya for the remainder of the war (1). Princess Elizabeth spent four formative years in Kenya, from 1941 to 1945, growing up in exile thousands of miles from her homeland as war ravaged Europe.
Post-War Life in France
After World War II ended, Princess Elizabeth relocated to France along with her mother, Princess Olga. They lived together in Paris and Elizabeth was immersed in European high society. She often graced the pages of fashion magazines and tabloids which closely followed the lives of European royalty. During this time period, she met Howard Oxenberg during a visit to the United States. The two had an instant connection and bond over their shared experiences of exile and displacement caused by the war (2).
Yugoslavian Roots
Though she spent much of her life abroad, Princess Elizabeth remained proud of her Yugoslavian ancestry. She was born into the House of Karađorđević, who ruled over Yugoslavia from 1918 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1945. Her father, Prince Paul, served as regent for King Peter II. The Karađorđević dynasty descended from Serbian revolutionary leader Đorđe Petrović. Elizabeth's maternal great-grandfather was King George I of Greece. Despite the upheaval she experienced in her youth, Elizabeth maintained a strong connection to her royal Yugoslavian roots throughout her life.
Dynastic Controversy
Princess Elizabeth prompted dynastic controversy within the Yugoslavian royal family when she married Howard Oxenberg without consent from the current head of the family, her cousin Crown Prince Alexander. Marriages of royal family members typically require approval to ensure the continuity of the bloodline. Her choice to proceed without consent caused friction. However, over time, feelings cooled, especially after the birth of Elizabeth's two daughters, who carried Karađorđević blood. In later years, Elizabeth and her family reconciled with the royal house, attending important events like royal weddings (3).
Life Abroad
Though a member of the Yugoslav royal family by birth, Princess Elizabeth spent the majority of her life living abroad. Growing up, she lived in exile in Kenya and South Africa during World War II before settling in Paris. After her marriage to Howard Oxenberg, the couple split their time between France, Switzerland, and the United States, especially New York City. Though she made visits to Yugoslavia, she was unable to return permanently due to the abolition of the monarchy in 1945. She adapted to her life of exile and displacement by building a rich life abroad, both in Europe and the United States (2, 3).
Sources:
(1) The Royal Watcher. "Royal History: Yugoslav Royals Flee During World War Two." The Royal Watcher, 26 Feb. 2017.
(2) Associated Press. "Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia." The Guardian, 26 Nov. 2019.
(3) CTV News Staff. "Yugoslav princess dies 'full of sadness' at exile from homeland." CTV News, 26 Nov. 2019.
