Leka, Crown Prince of Albania and Crown Princess Elia are divorcing after eight years of marriage.
The Albanian couple, who tied the knot in Tirana in October 2016, share a three-year-old daughter named Geraldine.
Taking to social media on January 15, Prince Leka announced the couple’s upsetting news.
In the statement Prince Leka, who is the head of the Albanian Royal Family, stated that their young daughter will remain their main priority.
Translated from Albanian, the statement read: “Hello friends and well-wishers, through this post, I officially inform you that LTM Princ Leka and Elia Zaharia have agreed to end their marriage.”
The statement added: “Since the marriage has lost its function, they have seen the way to resolve it by mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures.
“Despite the trust in the institution of the family, LTM Prince Leka II 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!!!”
It continued: “The spiritual and physical well-being of the girl, LSM Princess Geraldine, will remain at the center of their attention, dedicated to ensuring a happy and safe life for Geraldine.”
Crown Princess Elia also shared the same statement and thanked her followers for their “kindness” during “these difficult months”.
The post, which has since been deleted, read: “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!
“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!”
After their wedding day in October 2016, Elia became the Crown Princess of the Albanians.
Four years after tying the knot, the couple welcomed Geraldine in October 2020.
Prince Leka’s statement concluded by stating that he would “not make further statements or comments” and that the couple request privacy at this time.
