Last night, the ceremonial hall of St. Nicholas Church in Lyons, a suburb of Chicago, hosted a Royal Dinner, a humanitarian event held in honor of Hereditary Prince Filip and Princess Danica Karađorđević.
The event, which also featured the presentation of “Serbian Camp,” a joint project of the Royal Foundation and the Serbian Times portal, attracted great attention from members of the Serbian diaspora, who filled the hall to capacity.
Several generations of immigrants gathered in one place, including descendants of officers of the Yugoslav royal army who, more than a century ago, swore loyalty to the grandfather and great-grandfather of Prince Filip. 
They came to greet the heir to the Serbian royal dynasty and his family, whose work over the past few years has shown that monarchy still has significant potential and that Serbia could one day again become a kingdom.
The Karađorđević royal couple showed in Chicago that they deeply feel for their own people, both those in the homeland and those living abroad.
Prince Filip: The Serbian community in Chicago inspires pride
Addressing those gathered, Prince Filip emphasized the unbreakable bonds of the Serbian people, who continue to preserve their culture, faith, and tradition even while living abroad.
– When a person comes to Chicago and sees this community, our churches, organizations, families, and so many young people gathered around their heritage, it is impossible not to feel pride. Not only because of what Serbs here have created, but because of the love for their roots that endures even thousands of miles away from the homeland.
So tonight, on behalf of my family, I want to say one sincere thank you. Thank you for preserving our faith, our tradition, and our language. Thank you for teaching your children who they are and where they come from – Prince Filip told those gathered.
Princess Danica presented a project for young people
Princess Danica presented to those in attendance a project intended to unite members of the Serbian diaspora with those in the homeland. The initiative, intended for children from all parts of the world where Serbs live, is meant to allow children from the diaspora and the homeland not only to spend time together, but also to learn, meet, and create together.
– A few years ago, unwilling to sit idly by in the face of the challenges that struck our country, and especially Kosovo and Metohija, we decided to fight for the future and for the young. That is why, right there in Kosovo and Metohija, in the ancient city of Prizren, we decided to support a summer school of calligraphy and history for children from central Serbia, which connected them with children growing up in Kosovo and Metohija. It turned out that those friendships, and those lessons about life, were lessons for a lifetime.
That school inspired us to create the ‘Serbian Camp’ project as a way to connect our children from the diaspora with children in the homeland in the mission of preserving Serbian culture, tradition, language, spirituality, and history,” Princess Danica announced, presenting the new project, which should already be launched next summer in Vrnjačka Banja, the host of the first Serbian Camp.
An evening in the spirit of Serbian tradition and art
The event was enhanced by performances from Serbian artists from Chicago: the ensemble Sestre Radović, the most musical Serbian family in America, the folklore ensemble “Oko sokolovo” led by choreographer Milan Andrijanić, and the vocal-instrumental group “Zlatni vez,” which in a short time has achieved major success within the Chicago diaspora.
The program was hosted by Suzana Tesla, one of the most prominent Serbian artists and activists in Chicago, and Antonije Kovačević, editor of the Serbian Times portal.
Blessing, akathist, and photographs with guests
The Royal Dinner was blessed by Archbishop of New Gračanica and Chicago and Midwestern American Metropolitan Longin, while in his absence those gathered were addressed with a spiritual message by Bishop Serafim.
Before dinner, he served an akathist in St. Nicholas Church, with the support of Father Nemanja Tešić, parish priest and host, who with his family and parishioners wholeheartedly supported yesterday’s gathering, which lasted throughout the day.
The “Royal Dinner” ended with Hereditary Prince Filip and Princess Danica Karađorđević inviting everyone present to take photographs with them, which delighted the guests and once again showed that, just as in Serbia, they are one with their people.
Text & Photos: Milan Brašanac
Check out more photos from this event in the gallery below.
