Yugoslavia buries its last king

For almost 50 years the monarchy formed part of Yugoslavia's politics but Tito's communists at the end of World War II ended the royal reign. Today Serbia flaunts the royal coat of arms on its flag however the love of the Serbs for their monarchy is uncertain. Serbian newspaper polls show that only 40% of the country agrees with the late king's son Alexander Karadjordjevic who said that a king removed from the country's fractious politics would be a stabilising figure.

In 1941 Peter then aged 17 had acceded to the throne but 11 days later he fled as the Nazis invaded his territory. The royal family was torn apart as Peter I was originally interred in Libertyville, Illinois, his wife in Greece and his mother near Windsor Castle in the UK. His brother, Prince Pavle, became Prince Regent until a military coup deprived him of power for signing a non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany. King Peter died in 1970 in America.

The funeral is also being held for his wife, Queen Alexandria, his mother Queen Maria, and brother Prince Andrew. The coffins of the four members of the royal family were to be placed in the ancestral crypt, in the family mausoleum after the memorial service was held.