Princess Xenia’s Insult to King Alexander
King Alexander and Queen Draga would surely feel deep embarrassment if Prince Mirko were selected as the future heir of the Serbian throne. This is because King Alexander had a personal and humiliating experience with Mirko’s family in the past. Before marrying Draga Mašin, King Alexander had agreed—at the urging of his ministers—to look for a more suitable royal bride. There were discussions about forming a political marriage with a daughter of Prince Nicholas of Montenegro.
In line with these talks, King Alexander visited Cetinje, the capital of Montenegro, to meet Princess Xenia, the fourth daughter of Prince Nicholas. She was considered a promising match. However, when Princess Xenia met the young Serbian king, she was completely put off by his appearance and behavior. She found him so unpleasant that she refused to sit at the same table with him during dinner and declined to speak with him at all. Her rejection was clear and public Strong Ties Between Montenegro and Russia.
Alexander left Montenegro furious and humiliated. Upon returning to Serbia, he dismissed all the government ministers who had encouraged the marriage and even banished them from the country. Soon afterward, he went on to marry Draga Mašin—against the wishes of many in Serbia and across Europe.
The Scandal Over Queen Draga’s Brother
One of the most controversial events during King Alexander’s reign involved Queen Draga’s secret plan to have her brother, Nikodim Lunjevica, declared heir to the throne. Though he was a respectable young man and a competent soldier, he had no royal blood and no legal claim to be king. He was only about 24 years old, and his only real support came from his ambitious sister.
At first, many people dismissed the rumor that Alexander was planning to adopt Nikodim as his son and name him future king. The idea seemed too bold and absurd to be true. But within days, the rumor was confirmed. The king personally mentioned his intentions to several people in high positions.
This revelation caused a crisis. The members of the Serbian government were alarmed. They believed that Queen Draga had already been given far too much power and influence. After holding a long and serious discussion, the government decided it had a duty to stop her plan immediately—for the sake of Serbia’s future Sofia Private Guided Tours.
A Nation in Crisis
This scandal deepened the mistrust between the monarchy and the people. Many in Serbia already disliked Queen Draga, seeing her as manipulative and undeserving of royal status. The idea of her brother becoming king—despite lacking royal heritage—was unacceptable to the majority of the nation. This event only added to the growing tension at court and further isolated the royal couple from the people and from European royalty.
The crisis showed how unstable the Serbian monarchy had become under King Alexander’s rule. With rising conspiracies, public dissatisfaction, and reckless decisions, the future of the throne looked increasingly uncertain.