Royal couple Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia of Albania have announced their impending divorce.
The former couple, who married in a grandiose wedding in 2016, announced their shocking breakup on social media.
“Hello friends and lovers,” read a message on Crown Prince Leka’s official Instagram account, translated into English.
“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 statement added that the pair’s 3-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine, remains “at the center of their dedicated attention to ensure a happy and safe life.”
“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 post concluded.
In October 2016, Leka, the Albanian Royal Family’s head, married actress and singer Elia in Tirana, the capital city.
According to Hello! magazine, Elia, 40, issued her own statement regarding the breakup, which has since been removed from the platform.
“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,” she reportedly wrote on Instagram.
“This is not at all a reality that makes me happy, as I believe in family values as the most precious thing! 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,” she went on, according to the outlet.
“Despite these difficult months I’ve gone through, your kindness has given me strength. I wish you health and happiness in your families.”
Crown Prince Leka II became the Albanian Crown’s heir after his father, King Leka I, died in 2011.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
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