Commentary by Dr. Sally Brown Bassett
When a little boy in an orphanage in Serbia was asked why the candy bar the Crown Princess had him given was under his pillow, his reply was that “it was the best day of his life.” Princess Katherine has been making a difference ever since she and her husband, Crown Prince Alexander, began their reign in 2001 in Serbia (part of former Yugoslavia).
Prince Alexander’s father and grandfather were both kings of Yugoslavia. In April 1941 after Germany attacked and occupied Yugoslavia, the country’s young King Peter II (Alexander’s father) exiled to London. On July 17, 1945, while living in the Claridge Hotel, HRH Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia was born.
Under the orders of Winston Churchill, the suite 212 in the Claridge Hotel was declared a Yugoslav territory. HRH Princess Elizabeth (now HM Queen Elizabeth II) was his godmother at the baptism in Westminster Abbey. Prince Alexander’s education included time at Culver Military Academy in Indiana!
In 2003 I had the great privilege of meeting with the royal couple while they were traveling around the U.S. to bring awareness to the plight of their country. I fell in love with both of them over a private lunch then found myself flying to Belgrade a few weeks later visiting their two palaces, refugee camps and touring a dozen orphanages and hospitals.
Our humanitarian efforts began in earnest by sending needed supplies over to Serbia. At the time I was an executive with local airline, ATA. One day I heard that one of our aircraft was flying over to the Middle East empty to pick up military troops. It was decided we would make a stop along the way.
With the help of many local nonprofits in Indianapolis, we were able to fill the empty jet with wheelchairs, crutches, bedding for orphanages, medical supplies to take to Belgrade. Princess Katherine is still grateful for our Hoosier hospitality as she had the pleasure of distributing these items throughout her country.
Dr. Sally Brown Bassett is a yogi, social entrepreneur and world traveler. She is the founder and president of Peace through Yoga Foundation, where she leads trips to Costa Rica several times a year and works at the foundations’ International Center for Peace. Sally teaches at Peace through Yoga and Butler University. She can be reached at sally.bassett@peacethroughyoga.com.