A young European royal couple once thought to be happily married has just revealed that their union has not been as blissful as it may have seemed.
Albanian Crown Prince Leka II and Princess Elia Zharaia announced on Monday in separate social media posts that they had mutually decided to seek a divorce, according to People magazine.
Prince Leka, 41, the head of Albania's Royal Family, married former actress and singer Elia, 40, in 2016, and the couple share a three-year-old daughter named Princess Geraldine.
In a formal statement posted to Instagram in Albanian that has been translated into English, Prince Leka said, "Hello friends and loved ones. Through this post, I officially inform you that LTM Prince Leka and Elia Zharaia have agreed to end their marriage."
"Since marriage has lost its function, they have decided to resolve it with mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures," the message continued. "Regardless of the commitment to the institution of the family, LTM Leka believes that the values of mutual respect and understanding will form the basis of the relationship in its continuity, which will have as its motive the growth and education of LSM Princess Geraldine!!!"
The statement noted that Geraldine's physical and spiritual well-being "will remain at the center of their dedicated attention to ensure a happy and safe life," and added that the crown prince "will not make further statements or comments and requests that the right to privacy be respected regarding this matter."
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Around the same time that Prince Leka made the divorce announcement on his Instagram account, so too did Princess Elia reveal the marital split in a since-deleted post to her own social media accounts, according to Hello! magazine.
The princess wrote, in Albanian translated to English, "Friends and well-wishers, I need to inform you that today we started the legal procedures for the settlement of marriage, as we jointly decided to seek a divorce."
"This is not at all a reality that makes me happy, as I believe in family values as the most precious thing!" she continued. "I would never have chosen for my daughter to grow up with separate parents, but sometimes separation is the only option."
"What matters most, is that my baby girl experiences this moment as easily as possible. Thank you very much to all of you who wrote to me and gave me courage!" Elia added. "Despite these difficult months I've gone through, your kindness has given me strength. I wish you health and happiness in your families."
People magazine reported that Prince Leka and Princess Elia first met and began dating in 2008, got engaged in 2010, and were finally married in October 2016 in a Royal Wedding at the Royal Palace of Tirana.
Their daughter, Princess Geraldine, was born in October 2020 exactly 18 years after the death of her great-grandmother, the late Queen Geraldine, for whom she was named.
It remains unknown when the divorce proceedings will be finalized, nor is it clear whether Elia will be compelled to give up the royal title and other privileges she was granted when she married into the Albanian Royal Family eight years ago.
