Remains of Romania`s king Michael return home for final farewell
(Artdaily.org)

The body of Romania`s beloved former king Michael, who recently died in Switzerland aged 96, returned Wednesday to his home country where he will be laid to rest at a grand state funeral. The remains of one of the last surviving World War II leaders arrived in Bucharest early Wednesday. A solemn ceremony was held at the airport in the presence of the king`s five daughters, Romanian officials and senior Orthodox prelates. Covered in the regal coat of arms, the coffin was then taken to the castle north of Bucharest where he was born. It was due to return to Bucharest by late Wednesday and be put on display in the Royal Palace ahead of Saturday`s state funeral. The king, who passed away on December 5 following a battle with leukaemia had largely withdrawn from public life after announcing his illness last March.