Romanian Prince to Cycle Across Country For Charity

The grandson of Romania's former King, Prince Nicolae, plans to cross the whole of his grandfather's former domain by bike in order to raise funds for charity.

The Prince will be two-wheeling it from Sighetu Marmatiei in the north of Transylvania to the Black Sea port of Constanta in the southeast, covering over 1,000 km only in 11 days, between April 23 and May 3.

"It is a bit too much, over 1,000 km, but it will be a great pleasure to do it," he told the local Agerpres news agency. "I am doing this to raise money for an association that focuses on education and children," he explained.

He said the ride would also be "an excellent opportunity for the cycling community; it is an area that should be promoted more by the country and by young people," he added.

At 29, Nicolae is the eldest grandson of King Michael and third in line to the Romanian throne - unoccupied since the Communist takeover at the end of the Second World War.

King Michael, now 94, is the last surviving European head of state from the Second World War. A quiet and generally admired person, he is a third cousin to Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

The young monarch was forced to leave Romania in 1947, when, under Soviet influence, the Communist Party took full control of the country's affairs.

Since the fall of the Communist regime, the royal family has regained popularity. But Michael has not encouraged agitation for a restoration and royalist parties have made little impact politics. He himself says the restoration of the monarchy can only spring from a decision by the Romanian people. King Michael has five daughters.