Updated program of the funeral of King Michael I of Romania

The Press Office of the Romanian Royal Household has been authorised to transmit the following updates regarding the program of the funeral of King Michael I of Romania for Saturday, December 16, 2017 and the journey with the Royal Train:

On Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 11.00 a.m., His Late Majesty King Michael’s coffin will arrive at Otopeni Airport, whence it will be conveyed by hearse to Pelesh Castle. The event will take place in the presence of the new Head of the Royal House of Romania, Her Majesty Margareta, Custodian of the Crown, and the members of the Romanian Royal Family, representatives of the Romanian Government and of the Orthodox Church and members of the Royal Household. The press will have access to the ceremony. Members of the public will not have access.

From 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, the King’s coffin will lie in state in the Hall of Honour at Pelesh Castle. During this interval, the Custodian of the Crown and the Royal Family will be in Sinaia. The timetable for officials visiting Pelesh Castle to convey their condolences is as follows:

• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: The Presidential Institutions of Romania and the Republic of Moldova, members of the Government of Romania and the Government of the Republic of Moldova, members of the Parliament of Romania and the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova.
• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Representatives of institutions of the Romanian State (National Bank, city and town halls, schools and universities, central and local institutions).
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, the European Union, N.A.T.O., and international organisations.
• 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Representatives of the Romanian Academy and the State Academy of the Republic of Moldova, the Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and other religious institutions.

Access to Pelesh Castle will be on the basis of the lists communicated in advance to the Royal Protocol by the aforementioned institutions by e-mail at ofiter.protocol@palatulelisabeta.ro.

Members of the public will not have access to the Hall of Honour while the coffin lies in state at Pelesh Castle. The press will have limited access to the Hall of Honour.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at 6.00 p.m., His Late Majesty’s coffin will be taken from Pelesh Castle and from 8.30 p.m. will lie in state in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei, nos. 49-53). The ceremony of the arrival of the coffin in the Throne Room will be private. The press and members of the public will not have access.

All those who wish to lay flowers and to say a prayer at the catafalque of His Late Majesty King Michael I will have access to the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, between 9.00 p.m. and midnight, Thursday, December 14, 2017, between 8.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. and Friday, December 15, 2017, between 08.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m. Entry will be free for everybody. The press will also have access.

Those coming to the Royal Palace to pay their last respects to His Late Majesty King Michael I are asked to abide by the following rules:

• They should be dressed appropriately, in dark colours.
• They should not be carrying shopping bags, other kinds of bags, or bulky luggage of any kind.
• They should not be accompanied by children below the age of seven or by wheeling pushchairs.
• They should not use cameras or mobile telephones or any other electronic devices. Out of respect for the solemnity of the occasion, it will be forbidden to film or take photographs.
• They should have their identity cards with them.
• Members of the public will not be allowed to lay flowers at the catafalque personally. Flowers shall be laid in the garden in front of the Royal Palace or on the pavement in front of the Palace railings. The staff of the Royal Household will be on hand to advise the public.
• Those coming to the catafalque are asked not to bring books, letters, postcards, stamps, documents or photographs with them. These may be sent by post to the Elisabeta Palace after the event.
• It is strictly forbidden to smoke or to use mobile telephones within the precincts of the Royal Palace.
• They should cooperate with the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs during the security checks that will be carried out in the garden and inside the Royal Palace.
• Running in the perimeter is strictly forbidden.
• They should respect the program of activities and the travel route set by the organizers and the instructions of the staff of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

A first-aid post will be in service during the period of access to the Royal Palace.

At 10.25 a.m., on Saturday, December 16, 2017, a short religious service will be held in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace.

At 11.00 a.m., His Late Majesty’s coffin will be laid on a catafalque in Royal Palace Square, in front of the Palace. A military and religious ceremony will be held. The public will have free access to Royal Palace Square, within specially marked out areas. The press will also have free access.

At 11.10 a.m., the coffin will be placed on a gun carriage. The funeral cortege will include, a part from the Royal Family, servicemen and women from the Ministry of National Defense and representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Church. As a sign of respect, the gun carriage will be pulled by an operational vehicle of the Romanian Armed Forces.

Between 11.30 a.m. and 12.45 p.m., the funeral cortege will walk from the Royal Palace Square, along Calea Victoriei, then Unirii Square, to the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Between 12.50 p.m. and 2.00 p.m., a funeral mass will take place in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Romania. The press and members of the public will not have access.

At 2.00 p.m., the funeral cortege will travel to Băneasa Royal Railway Station taking the following route: Unirii Square – University Square – Romana Square – Charles de Gaulle Square – The Triumphant Arch – Kiseleff Av. – Bucureşti – Ploieşti Av.

At 2.40 p.m., His Majesty’s coffin will be transported in the Royal Train to Curtea de Argeș.

In the Royal Train will travel Her Majesty the Custodian of the Crown and the Royal Family of Romania. The press and public will have access in front of Băneasa Royal Railway Station.

The Royal Train will travel at low speed through the following cities: Chitila (2.51 p.m.) – Titu (3.41 p.m.) – Pitești (4.46 p.m.). All those who want to pay their respects to His Late Majesty King Michael I are welcomed in the railway station of their city.

The Royal Train will arrive at Curtea de Argeş Railway Station, at 5.30 p.m. The funeral cortege will travel from the railway station to Curtea de Arges Cathedral. The press and public will have access in front of Curtea de Arges Railway Station.

At 5.50 p.m., His Late Majesty’s burial service will take place in Curtea de Argeș Cathedral. At 6.20 p.m. His Late Majesty’s coffin will be taken to the New New Episcopal and Royal Cathedral in a procession. The burial will end at 6.40 p.m.

The ceremony will be attended only by Her Majesty the Custodian of the Crown, the Royal Family of Romania and members of foreign Royal Families. The public will not be allowed past the front gates of the Park of the Curtea de Argeș Monastery.

The press will not be allowed inside the New Cathedral, either before or during the burial ceremony. The New Cathedral will be closed to visitors during the seven days following the funeral.

The Royal Family announces heavy mourning for 40 days and mourning for the first three months after the day of His Late Majesty’s passing.

Books of condolence are open at Pelesh Castle, the Royal Palace (Calea Victoriei), and Elisabeta Palace. The public will be able to sign the books of condolence for forty days after the date of the decease.