The High Court of Justice in Romania recognized Prince Paul of Romania as an official member of the Royal House of Romania, which makes him the official grandson of Prince Carol II of Romania and the nephew of King Michael of Romania, the current head of the Royal family. 'I hope that what happened today is a first step towards reconciliation and peace in the Royal Family,” said Paul of Romania.

The decision doesn't give dynastic rights, according to a statement issued by the Royal House of Romania. King Michael I is the only one who has a say in dynastic issues in the family, and only its current members can use the title Prince of Romania, according to the statement.

Paul, whose father Mircea Grigore Carol Lambrino was born from an annulled marriage, has been trying to be recognized as part of the Royal Family for the last 21 years. His father Mircea Grigore Carol Lambrino was recognized by the Portuguese court in 1955, and ex-King Michael also recognized his brother, according to data on Prince Paul's website.

Paul of Romania (Paul-Philippe of Hohenzollern) is the son of Mircea Grigore Carol of Romania, the son of King Carol the 2nd. Mircea Grigore Carol was born out of Carol the 2nd’s marriage with Zizi Labrino, but their morganatic marriage was annulled by the country’s Supreme Court in 1919.

Paul, 64, and his wife Lia have a son, Carol Ferdinand, born in 2010. Their son was baptised by Romanian president Traian Basescu.

King Michael of Romania has decided to break the historical and dynastic bond with the House of Hohenzollern and give up on the title Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, which would offer the Royal House of Romania a national and independent status. The bond was broken on worries that the house of Hohenzollern would claim to head the Royal House of Romania after King Michael’s death. Michael and his wife Ana have five daughters.

editor@romania-insider.com