Body of Queen of Serbia repatriated from Frogmore in Home Park

The body of Queen Maria of Serbia has been repatriated from her grave in Frogmore House near Windsor Castle.

Her body was exhumed on Friday, April 26 and she was repatriated back to Serbia on Monday last week.

Members of the Serbian royal family arranged for her remains to return to the Balkans capital Belgrade where she could be reunited with her family.

Repatriation permission was given by the Queen, Dean of Windsor, Anglican Church, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

Queen Maria died aged 61 and was buried in Frogmore in Home Park on June 22, 1961 adjacent to the Royal Mausoleum near to where Queen Victoria and husband Prince Albert's graves at the Royal Burial Ground.

She moved to the UK after the First World War when her husband King Alexander I was assassinated and her son King Peter II was forced into exile by the Nazis.

During her time in the UK, she lived on a farm in the countryside and drove a car, which was considered unusual for royals to do at the time.

Queen Maria was said to be a pioneering, modern European royal, speaking five languages, while being a talented painter, and sculptor.

She was a second cousin once removed of both the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

Serbian PM Ivica Dacic, said a state funeral will be held on May 26 when a host of dignitaries from all over the world will attend.