No pomp event. After the first pompous wedding full of luxury, he opted for a more intimate ceremony and a return to his roots. Slovak Oponice became the scene of the royal wedding, but everything happened in silence.
The Albanian prince returned to his roots
Slovakia became the scene of an event that rewrites history. The wedding of the Albanian crown prince took place over the weekend in the historic premises of the Apponyi manor in Oponice. Leka II. (43) quietly married wedding photographer Blerta Celibashi.
But behind the romantic images of lovers in historical spaces, there is a story full of dramatic twists. The first marriage of the prince ended extremely stormy.
In the article you will read:
- how was the wedding in Oponice,
- more about the prince’s first marriage,
- information and his tumultuous divorce,
- why Leka chose a Slovak mansion
The ceremony took place over the weekend in a very intimate style. It was intimate, without lavish celebrations and hundreds of guests present. On the contrary.
This was also evidenced by the fact that the bride was not dressed in an opulent gown, but in an atypical but stylish two-piece ensemble.
Prince Leka II. and his wife Blerta chose a mansion in Oponice for the intimate ceremony.
Source: Profimedia
This ceremony in a Slovak mansion was in total contrast to the first marriage of Prince Leka. He married his first wife, actress Elia Zaharia, in 2016 in front of hundreds of guests from all over the planet and several representatives of the world’s royal families.
Both the ceremony and the wedding reception were quite opulent. Exactly as expected from the royal family.
The first wedding of the Albanian prince with Princess Elia was a fairy tale. year 2016
Source: Profimedia
And their marriage at first looked like it was cut out of a fairy tale, and the partners seemed very happy. Leka worked as an adviser to the Albanian presidents and Elia continued her career at the National Theatre, while they jointly ran the Queen Geraldine Foundation, which helps families in need.
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In 2020, they had a daughter, Geraldine, who was named after Leka’s grandmother. The birth of a little girl was seen as a consolidation of the dynasty and brought a great wave of popularity to the family, which had not been officially in power since the Second World War. But gradually it got dark over the couple.
Prince Leka with his then wife Elia and their daughter Geraldine.
Source: Profimedia
After eight years of marriage came the surprise announcement that the couple had decided to separate and go their separate ways. The year was 2024 and the reason was the fact that their union had lost its function.
A stormy divorce full of violence
But later, news spread around the world that the prince got into a physical fight with his ex-wife and her then 73-year-old father.
The palace claimed the prince was attacked with blunt objects, while Elia claimed she was only defending her father from an aggressor. The situation went so far that the court in Tirana ordered both ex-partners to keep a 5-meter distance. In fact, Leka can only see her daughter in the presence of the nanny.
It was in a difficult period that he found his support in the sympathetic photographer Blerte. According to some reports, a spark flew when the Albanian palace commissioned her professional services.
Prince Leka and Blerta enjoyed a beautiful engagement in October last year.
Source: Profimedia
As the prince tries to improve his image, one could speculate that he chooses not to attract much attention. For this reason, the couple probably chose a mansion in Slovakia for their wedding. And it’s not just some random selection.
The “call of blood” binds the prince to the Oponics. His grandmother, Geraldine Apponyi was born here. The Apponyi family had their family seat in Oponice for centuries. Geraldine was even nicknamed the “White Rose of Hungary” and thanks to her, the love for Oponicia in the Albanian royal family has survived to this day.
Prince Leka and his wife Princess Blerta said yes in the mansion in Oponice. In the picture, the famous Aponyi library.
Source: Profimedia
Prince Leka II. by choosing this place, he honored the memory of his grandmother and symbolically “closed the circle”. He returned to where the story of an aristocrat who became the only queen of the Albanians began.
Despite the fact that the Albanian monarchy has not officially existed since 1943, the Zogu family is still seen as the guardian of national traditions.
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After the Sunday vow, the photographer Blerty became the princess of the Albanians and took the surname Zoga. Thanks to her, Prince Leka begins a new stage. Whether the peaceful start of the marriage in Slovakia will bring him the desired harmony, only time will tell.
See what the engagement of the prince looked like and also his first wedding with his ex-wife. Among the images you will see a portrait of his grandmother, with roots in Slovakia:
