Elia
Princess of Albania
Pictured in 2016
BornElia Zaharia
(1983-02-08) 8 February 1983
Tirana, Albania
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2024)​
IssuePrincess Geraldine
HouseZaharia (by birth)
Zogu (by marriage)
FatherGjergj Polikron Zaharia
MotherYllka Mujo
ReligionAlbanian Orthodox
SignatureElia's signature

Elia, Princess of Albania[1] (née Zaharia; born 8 February 1983) is an Albanian actress, former singer and wife of Leka, Prince of Albania. They married on 8 October 2016 in Tirana.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

She was born on 8 February 1983 in Tirana, Albania. She is the daughter of Gjergj Polikron Zaharia (b. 1952) and Yllka Mujo (b. 1953). Her father is from Përmet while her mother's family come from Podgorica, Montenegro. They moved to Shkodër, a city in northern Albania, later during the monarchist period. She has a younger brother, Amos Muji Zaharia. Both her mother and brother are famous artists in Albania, her mother being a well-known actress and her brother an actor and film director.[5]

In 2002, she graduated from the National Art School Jordan Misja in Tirana in art and scenography and later moved to Paris for her university studies, where she met Prince Leka. In 2005, she graduated from the National Conservatory of Bordeaux in art drama. She then attended a private French drama school in Paris, Cours Florent, and then continued her studies in scenic acting at the Paris 8 University, graduating in 2010.

She is fluent in French, English, and Italian.

Career

Crown Princess Elia has performed in several plays at the National theatre including:

Crown Princess Elia also acted in movies and performed as a singer. In 2002, she had the main role in 'Lule te kuqe, lule te zeza', while in 2008 she acted in the movie Honeymoon by Goran Paskaljevic.

From 1999 until 2002, Elia took part in a musical band called “Spirit Voice”.

In 2016 and 2018, Elia co-hosted Kënga Magjike, a major musical event in Albania, together with Ardit Gjebrea.

Personal life

In Paris she met Prince Leka of Albania and in May 2010 they got engaged.[6][7] Since then she has accompanied the Prince on all his visits and meetings with members of other royal families. She is also head of the Queen Geraldine Foundation, a non-profit founded by the Royal Court.[6] According to its website, the "foundation aims to be close to the Albanian families who need help [and to] children who need care."[8]

On 27 March 2016, it was announced by Prince Skënder Zogu (b. 1933), a member of the Albanian Royal Family, that the couple would get married on 8 October 2016 in the Royal Palace in Tirana.[9] The ceremony was a semi-official ceremony, held in Tirana in the Royal Palace,[6] with more than 300 members of other European noble and royal families attending. The couple's civil marriage was officiated by the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj.[10]

Among the members of the Royal families, who attended the wedding were: Queen Sofía of Spain, Empress Farah of Iran, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Princess Léa of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and other members from the royal families of Italy, Liechtenstein, Romania, Greece, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco and members of other noble families. Heads of state of Albania also attended the ceremony.[11]

She gave birth to a daughter on 22 October 2020 at Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana, on the 18th death anniversary of Queen Geraldine, after whom she was also named.[12] On January 15 2024 Prince Leka announced that he and Princess Elia were divorcing.

Honours

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elia, Crown Princess of Albania.
  1. ↑ "Oranews.tv - Princ Leka II e Princeshë Elia martohen në "Pallatin Mbretëror"". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Albanian Royal Family -". Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Prince Leka and Elia Zaharia - ROYAL WEDDING". Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. ↑ "Albania Prepares for Historic Royal Wedding :: Balkan Insight". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. ↑ "Albanian Royal Family - Elia Zaharia". Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 "NEWS: ALBANIAN ROYAL WEDDING". Royal family of Georgia. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  7. ↑ "membres.htm". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "Albanian Royal Family - Queen Geraldine Foundation". Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "Leka y Elia de Albania: así son los novios de la boda que reunirá a la realeza de Europa. Noticias de Casas Reales". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "FOTOT+VIDEO/ Dasma mbretërore, Elia Zaharia i thotë "Po" Princ Lekës. Marrin bekimin e krerëve fetarë". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  11. ↑ "ROYAL COUPLE AT ROYAL WEDDING IN ALBANIA". Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "Prince Leka's wife gives birth (in Albanian)".
  13. ↑ Imperial Wedding in Russia
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