View source for Leka, Crown Prince of Albania

{{Short description|Crown Prince of Albania from 1961 to 2011}}
{{about|the son of Zog I|the grandson of Zog I|Leka, Prince of Albania}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Leka
| image        = Leka of Albania.jpg
| title        = Crown Prince of Albania
| succession   = [[House of Zogu|Head of the House of Zogu]]
| reign        = 9 April 1961 – 30 November 2011
| reign-type   = Period
| predecessor  = [[Zog I of Albania|King Zog I]]
| successor    = [[Leka, Prince of Albania]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Susan Cullen-Ward]]|1975|2004|end=died}}
| issue        = [[Leka, Prince of Albania]]
| full name    = Leka Skënder Zogu
| house        = [[House of Zogu|Zogu]]
| father       = [[Zog I of Albania]]
| mother       = [[Geraldine of Albania|Countess Géraldine Apponyi de Nagyappony]]
| birth_date   = {{Birth date|1939|4|05|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Presidential Palace, Tirana|Royal Palace of Tirana]], [[Tirana]], [[Kingdom of Albania (1928–39)|Kingdom of Albania]]
| death_date   = {{Death date and age|2011|11|30|1939|4|05|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Mother Teresa Hospital (Tirana)|Mother Teresa Hospital]], [[Tirana]], Albania
| burial_place = [[Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family]]
| religion     = 
| signature    = Leka Zogu I (nënshkrim).svg
}}
[[File:Albanian guards in Rhodesia.jpg|thumb|Exiled members of the former Royal Albanian Guard in Rhodesia in the 1970s]]
'''Leka, Crown Prince of Albania''' (Leka Skënder Zogu; 5 April 1939{{spaced ndash}}30 November 2011) was the only son of [[King Zog I]] and [[Queen Geraldine of Albania]]. He was called [[Crown Prince]] Skander at birth. After his father's death in 1961, Leka was the pretender to the [[Kingdom of Albania (1928–39)|Albanian throne]], and his supporters referred to him as ''King Leka I''.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web|
url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1467530/Queen-Susan-of-the-Albanians.html|title=Queen Susan of the Albanians (obituary)|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=22 July 2004|access-date=16 May 2008}}</ref>

==Biography==
===Early life and education===

Leka was born on April 5, 1939, in the [[Presidential Palace, Tirana|Royal Palace of Tirana]] in the [[Kingdom of Albania (1928–39)|Kingdom of Albania]]. He was named Crown Prince Skander and his birth was celebrated with a 101-gun salute and a military parade.<ref name="Telegraph Obituary">{{cite news|title=Obituaries: Leka I Zogu|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/royalty-obituaries/8926722/Leka-I-Zogu.html|newspaper=Daily Telegraph|date=30 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613055654/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/royalty-obituaries/8926722/Leka-I-Zogu.html|archive-date=13 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pettifer|first=James|title=Leka Zogu: Controversial 'king of the Albanians' who spent most of his life in exile|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/leka-zogu-controversial-king-of-the-albanians-who-spent-most-of-his-life-in-exile-6270109.html|work=The Independent|date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413003913/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/leka-zogu-controversial-king-of-the-albanians-who-spent-most-of-his-life-in-exile-6270109.html|archive-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> Leka was the son of [[Zog of Albania|King Zog I of Albania]] and [[Geraldine of Albania|Queen Geraldine of Albania]]; and was also an eighth cousin of U.S. President [[Richard Nixon]] through his maternal grandmother, a New York socialite.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fenyvesi|first=Charles|title=Splendor in Exile|publisher=New Republic Books|year=1979|page=229}}</ref>

Just two days after his birth, King Zog I was forced into exile after [[Benito Mussolini]]'s army invaded the country during the [[Italian invasion of Albania]]. Shortly after, Zog was replaced on the throne of [[Albania]] by [[Victor Emmanuel III of Italy]] — an action the [[King of Italy]] would later plead personal forgiveness for. Victor Emmanuel III remained King until his abdication in 1943, following the [[Armistice of Cassibile]].

Crown Prince Leka began life in exile in various countries. After traveling across [[Europe]], the Albanian [[Royal Family]] settled in [[England]], first at the [[The Ritz London Hotel|Ritz Hotel]] in [[London]], then moving for a very short period in 1941 to [[South Ascot]], near [[Ascot, Berkshire|Ascot]] in [[Berkshire]], and then in 1941 to Parmoor House, [[Parmoor]], near [[Frieth]] in [[Buckinghamshire]].

After the [[End of World War II in Europe]], Zog, Queen Geraldine and Leka moved temporarily to [[Egypt]], where they lived at the invitation of [[Farouk of Egypt|King Farouk I]].

Leka attended school at [[Victoria College, Alexandria]] in [[Egypt]] and at [[Aiglon College]] in [[Villars-sur-Ollon]], [[Switzerland]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} He studied economics at the [[University of Geneva]] and at the [[University of Paris|Sorbonne]], and attended the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]] in [[England]].<ref>Fenyvesi, p. 235</ref> Following this he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the [[British Army]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} He had since made his money with successful business deals in commodities.

Leka became [[heir apparent]] of the abolished throne on 5 April, 1957. On the death of King Zog in 1961, Leka was proclaimed [[King of the Albanians]] by a convened Albanian National Assembly-in-exile, in a [[function room]] at the [[Hôtel Le Bristol Paris|Hotel Bristol]], [[Paris]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.economist.com/node/1429252 | title = Queen Geraldine of Albania: Geraldine Apponyi, a queen for 354 days, died on October 22nd, aged 87 | date = 7 November 2002 | newspaper = [[The Economist]] | department = Obituary | access-date = 18 April 2018}}</ref>

===Marriage and exile===
In 1975, Leka married [[Australian people|Australian]] citizen and former teacher [[Susan Cullen-Ward]].<ref name="San Diego Union">{{cite news|last=Semini|first=Llazar|title=Albania's self-styled King Leka dies at 72|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-albanias-self-styled-king-leka-dies-at-72-2011nov30-story.html|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=30 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330024116/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-albanias-self-styled-king-leka-dies-at-72-2011nov30-story.html|archive-date=30 March 2022}}</ref> They were married in a [[civil ceremony]] in the [[City hall|Hôtel de Ville]], [[Biarritz]]. The wedding reception, at a five-star Toledo Roadhouse, was attended by members of other exiled royal families, loyal Albanians and friends, who toasted "Long live the King".<ref name="telegraph"/> The couple returned to [[Madrid]], where they were befriended by the Spanish [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|King Juan Carlos I]] and continued to enjoy the attentions of [[Albanians]]. The couple married religiously in Madrid. Their wedding was officiated by a Muslim ulema, a Protestant pastor (due to the fact that Susan was Episcopalian), and a Roman Catholic priest (as Queen Geraldine was Catholic).<ref>Fenyvesi, p. 243</ref>

When it was discovered that Leka not only retained some [[Thai people|Thai]] bodyguards, but had what was described as an [[Weapons|arms]] cache in their home, the [[Spanish government]] asked him to leave. When his plane arrived at [[Gabon]] for refueling, he found that it was being surrounded by local troops, who were said to have been hired to capture him by the [[Albanian government]]. The soldiers backed down when Leka appeared at the plane's door with a [[bazooka]] in his hand.<ref name="Telegraph Obituary"/> The couple went on to [[Rhodesia]] but, after [[Robert Mugabe]] took power, they settled in a large compound near [[Johannesburg]] where they were given [[Diplomatic recognition|diplomatic status]] by the [[South African Government]].

Leka spent many years exiled in [[Bryanston, Gauteng|Bryanston, South Africa]], where his son [[Leka, Prince of Albania|Prince Leka]] was born, before eventually returning to Albania in 2002.

===Return to Albania===
In 1993 Leka was permitted to enter Albania for the first time (since being exiled aged a few days old in 1939), doing so under a [[passport]] issued by his own [[Government in exile|Royal Court-in-exile]]. In this royal passport, which the Albanian government had previously refused to recognise, Leka listed his profession as "King".<ref>{{cite news|last=Labi|first=Aisha|title=New Hope for The Old Regime|url=http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1127/balkankings.html|work=Time Magazine Vol. 156 No. 22|date=27 November 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010122090100/http://www.time.com/time/europe/magazine/2000/1127/balkankings.html|archive-date=22 January 2001}}</ref>

During the [[1997 rebellion in Albania]], Leka returned again, this time being greeted by 2,000 supporters.<ref>{{cite news |title=Albania: two thousand attend Tirana protest rally in support of monarchy |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F99F5CCC575771E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|publisher=ATA|date=2 July 1997|access-date=31 July 2008}}</ref> Many of Leka's royalist supporters felt that a restoration of the monarchy would help bring political and financial stability to the government, as well as help protect Albanian democracy, following [[People's Socialist Republic of Albania|decades of communist rule]].<ref>{{cite web|title=ALBANIA: KING LEKA I RETURNS FROM EXILE IN SOUTH AFRICA|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-KING-LEKA-I-RETURNS-FROM-EXILE-IN-SOUTH-AFRICA/77d2a3cfd83ac62899fc695365d7cb1b|work=AP Archive|date=12 April 1997}}</ref>

On June 29, a [[Albanian monarchy referendum, 1997|referendum]] was held in Albania concerning a restoration of the [[monarchy]]. Before the results had been finalized, Albanian government officials announced that the referendum had been rejected. Leka questioned the results of the election and claimed the [[Electoral fraud|vote had been manipulated]]. Leka protested, surrounded by roughly 20 guards, who were armed with assault rifles, grenades, and machine-guns. Leka himself was dressed in camouflage and carried two pistols. Albanian police had previously deployed armored vehicles and forces with heavy machine-guns, in case of any trouble ahead of the election.

On July 3, Leka led a crowd of 900 protesters, some armed, outside the main elections building, to protest, claiming election fraud had occurred. Royalist protesters sang at the rally, chanting "Brother, pick up the weapons. We'll fight or die, we'll win", as they waved pro-monarchy flags. 300 royalists then marched alongside Leka in the central Skanderbeg Square, causing police intervention. This led to a shootout between royalists and police, which lasted approximately 15 minutes. Gunfire and several grenade explosions went off, as nearby civilians scrambled for cover. Police killed one royalist protestor, Agim Gjoonpalaj, and several others were injured in the gunfight.<ref>{{cite web|title=ALBANIA: TIRANA: LEKA ZOGU'S SUPPORTERS OPEN FIRE ON POLICE|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-TIRANA-LEKA-ZOGU-S-SUPPORTERS-OPEN-FIRE-ON-POLICE/2fb87744fcd0623a6d2611cbf31cfed6|work=AP Archive|date=3 July 1997}}</ref> Gjoonpalaj was both a monarchist and a pro-democracy advocate.

Gjoonpalaj's funeral was held two days later, on June 5. President [[Sali Berisha]] called upon members of the [[Democratic Party of Albania]] to attend the funeral. Leka also attended, greeting mourners and walking with the coffin bearers. The funeral procession proceeded through Skanderberg Square, where the violence had previously broken out two days before. Royalists at the funeral walked through the square, shouting "Down with Communism!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania: Victim of Shoot-Out Agim Gjoonpalaj's Funeral|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-TIRANA-VICTIM-OF-SHOOT-OUT-AGIM-GJOONPALAJ-S-FUNERAL/f74b45ee0d9bee2c3142e5e18eff9e53|date=5 July 1997|work=AP Archive}}</ref>

After a recount it was announced by the government that the restoration was rejected by approximately two-thirds of those voting.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2072440.stm | title=Ex-king's son returns to Albania |work=[[BBC News Online]] |date=28 June 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404211906/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2072440.stm|archive-date=4 April 2022}}</ref>

Albanian President Sali Berisha expressed his thoughts on the failed referendum in 2011:

{{cquote|"By 2003, the Albanian Parliament passed the law that recognized the attributes of the Royal Family and it was a right decision. Also I remind you that even the referendum was held in the context of flames of the communist rebellion and therefore cannot be considered a closed matter. The Stalinist principle of: 'you vote, but I count the votes' was applied in that referendum. But, the fact of the matter is the Albanians voted massively for their King, but the referendum failed to meet quotas as it was manipulated."<ref>http://www.keshilliministrave.al/?fq=brenda&m=news&lid=15635&gj=gj2 {{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''[[Albanian Government Council of Ministers webpage]]'' November 2011</ref>}}

When Leka was later asked if he intended to leave Albania, he replied: "Why? It is my country", though he soon left Albania of his own accord on July 12.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania - Would-be king Leka Zogu departs|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-Would-be-king-Leka-Zogu-departs/c62d044eeacb84ecf1c4dd0df1844f70|work=AP Archive|date=12 July 1997}}</ref> Following that, Leka was tried and sentenced by the Albanian government to three years imprisonment for [[sedition]], in absentia. This conviction was later set aside in March 2002, when 72 members of Parliament asked the royal family to return.<ref name="telegraph"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.apci.org.uk/PDF/APCI_3_4a.pdf |title= Commentary on Home Office Republic of Albania Country Report of April 2004 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070728104545/http://www.apci.org.uk/PDF/APCI_3_4a.pdf |archive-date= 2007-07-28 }}&nbsp;{{small|(362&nbsp;KB)}}, [[United Kingdom|UK]] Advisory Panel on Country Information, Third Meeting: 7 September 2004.</ref> In June 2002, Leka returned to Albania and brought with him 11 cases of automatic weapons, grenades, and hunting arms. The authorities quickly seized them, though the weapons were returned to the royal family six years later, after being deemed items of cultural heritage. After his 2002 settlement in Albania, he lived out a quiet life with his wife and son.<ref name="Telegraph Obituary"/> His wife died two years later in July 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Albania buries royal claimant Leka Zogu|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16021010|work=BBC News|date=3 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413002814/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-16021010|archive-date=13 April 2022}}</ref>

===Further political activity===

Leka was backed by the [[Movement of Legality Party|Party of Right and Legality (PLL)]], a right wing monarchist party and a marginal factor in Albanian politics.<ref name=cas/> It formed a [[coalition]] with other parties in Albania. Leka, however, did not vote, stating that {{cquote|I am above all political parties, even my own.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nordlinger|first=Jay|url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_14_57/ai_n15655186/pg_2|title=Albania votes: an emerging democracy, emerges|work=National Review|date=8 August 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080104213717/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_14_57/ai_n15655186/pg_2|archive-date=4 January 2008}}</ref>}}

Leka was head of the Movement for National Development.<ref name=sot>[http://www.sot.com.al/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4184&Itemid=39&lang= Leka: Enough with communist mentality], ''Gazeta SOT Online'', 30 April 2005</ref> He argued that he was a fighter for a Greater Albania in terms of ethnicity and that his restoration as king would make possible this goal.<ref name=cas>{{cite journal|last=Mudde|first=Cas|title=Extreme-right Parties in Eastern Europe|journal=Patterns of Prejudice|year=2000|volume=34|issue=1|pages=5–27|doi=10.1080/00313220008559132|s2cid=143797210}}</ref> However, in February 2006, he announced he would be withdrawing from political and public life.<ref name=sot/>

===Death===
Leka died on 30 November 2011 from a heart attack in [[Mother Teresa Hospital (Tirana)|Mother Teresa Hospital]], Tirana.<ref name="San Diego Union"/> Albanian authorities held official ceremonies for the former Crown Prince, and declared December 3, the day of his funeral, a day of national mourning. Tirana's mayor [[Lulzim Basha]] stated at the funeral that "We have come here today ... to honor, with full historic gratitude and national pride, the work of Leka Zogu." Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox prayers were all read by religious leaders at the funeral. Leka's son, [[Leka, Prince of Albania]] stated "I, Prince Leka II, swear in front of the body of my father that I will follow the road of King Zogu, of King Leka I to be at the service of the nation, the homeland."

Leka was buried next to his wife's and mother's grave at the public Sharra cemetery in a Tirana suburb.<ref>{{cite news|last=Semini|first=Llazar|title=Albania holds funeral for self-styled king Leka I|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-albania-holds-funeral-for-self-styled-king-leka-i-2011dec03-story.html|work=The San Diego Union-Tribute|date=3 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413011342/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-albania-holds-funeral-for-self-styled-king-leka-i-2011dec03-story.html|archive-date=13 April 2022}}</ref> Later he was buried at the Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al/pages/residence|title=Albanian Royal Family - Royal Residences|website=www.albanianroyalcourt.al|access-date=13 September 2023|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108005308/http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al/pages/residence|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Leka was a [[Muslim]] and appealed for Islamic solidarity. He also spoke a half-dozen languages, including [[Albanian language|Albanian]], [[Arabic]] and [[English language|English]].<ref>Fenyvesi, p. 231</ref>

Leka stood at a height of {{height|ft=6|in=9|out=cm}}, much taller than his slim {{height|ft=5|in=2|out=cm}} wife Susan Cullen-Ward.<ref name="Fenyvesi, p. 229">Fenyvesi, p. 229</ref> Author Charles Fenyvesi gave a description of his appearance and manner in his 1979 book, ''Splendor in Exile'':

{{cquote|"Leka is a tower of a man with a bulging middle, the deliberate swagger of [[John Wayne]], and the innocent eyes of an English schoolboy. He wears clean, freshly ironed green army fatigues, well-shined black combat boots, and a pistol strapped to his belt. He explains that the insignias on his jacket denote his specialties: guerilla warfare, commando operations, armaments expertise, marksmanship. The patch of a crowned double-headed eagle marks the outfit an Albanian uniform; his cap badge identifies him as the commander in chief."<ref>Fenyvesi, p. 236</ref>}}

In the 1960s, Leka struck up a friendship with California Governor [[Ronald Reagan]] (later [[President of the United States]]), gifting him a baby elephant named "Gertie". This name was deemed unrefined by [[Nancy Reagan]], who chose to rename the animal "[[GOP]]".<ref>{{cite news|last=Altman|first=Alan|title=Life After the Throne: Leka Zog|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1810834_1810842_1810766,00.html|work=Time Magazine|date=2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413003913/https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1810834_1810842_1810766,00.html|archive-date=13 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Fenyvesi, p. 229"/>

== Dynastic honours ==
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} [[House of Zogu]]: Highest Holder of the Grand Collar of Honour of Albania<ref name="NationalHonours">{{Cite web|url=http://lot-images.atgmedia.com/SR/35396/2877283/839-201325151730_original.jpg|title=Crown Prince Leka wearing his national orders|accessdate=12 April 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} [[House of Zogu]]: Grand Master of the [[Order of Fidelity|Royal Order of Fidelity]]<ref name="NationalHonours" /><ref name="RibbonBars">gettyimages.co.uk, [http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/prince-leka-of-albania-son-of-the-king-zog-i-of-albania-news-photo/146478273 Crown Prince Leka wearing the sash, medal and ribbon bars at the Russian Imperial wedding]</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} [[House of Zogu]]: Grand Master of the [[Order of Skanderbeg (1925–90)|Royal Order of Skanderbeg]]<ref name="NationalHonours" /><ref name="RibbonBars" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/33/23/e7/3323e75dcb214f06951d5cdeba916613.jpg|title=Wearing the Grand Cross at his pre-wedding party|accessdate=12 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/65595512@N00/4463782725/|title=Boda de Leka de Albania, hijo del Rey Zog, con su novia Susan Cullen-Ward en Illescas (Toledo). Image by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS|date=26 March 2010}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Albania}} [[House of Zogu]]: Grand Master of the [https://albanianroyalcourt.al/royal-orders-of-the-house-of-zogu/ Royal Order of Bravery]<ref name="RibbonBars" />
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Italy}} [[House of Savoy|Italian Royal Family]]: Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus|Royal Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]<ref name="RibbonBars" />
* {{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[House of Romanov|Russian Imperial Family]]: Member 1st class of the [[Order of Saint Vladimir|Imperial Order of Saint Vladimir]]<ref name="RibbonBars" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/prince-leka-of-albania-son-of-the-king-zog-i-of-albania-news-photo/146478305|title=Prince Leka of Albania, son of the King Zog I of Albania, during his...|website=Getty Images|date=15 June 2012 |accessdate=12 April 2023}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kingdom of Georgia|Royal}} [[Bagrationi dynasty|Georgian Royal Family]]: Knight Grand Collar of the [[Order of the Eagle of Georgia|Royal Order of the Eagle of Georgia]]<ref name="RibbonBars" />

==References==
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* Dedet, Joséphine "Géraldine, reine des Albanais". Paris: Belfond, 2016, published at the occasion of Prince Leka's wedding in Tirana, on October 8, 2016 (Leka being Geraldine's grandson) ; former editions: Criterion, 1997 {{ISBN|2-7413-0148-4}} and Belfond, 2012, {{ISBN|978-2-7144-5090-6}}. Biography enriched by the Queen's testimony, by her personal archives and by a huge correspondence with the author, who has benefited of many unpublished sources.
* Dedet, Joséphine, Géraldine, Egy Magyar No Albania Tronjan, Budapest : Europa, 2015, {{ISBN|978-963-405-202-9}}, best-seller in Hungary, translation of Géraldine, reine des Albanais".
* Fenyvesi, Charles. "Splendor in Exile". Washington D.C.: New Republic Books, 1979. {{ISBN|978-0915220557}}
* Najbor, Patrice. "Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa Maison Royale" (5 volumes) - JePublie - Paris - 2008
* Rees, Neil. ''A Royal Exile – King Zog & Queen Geraldine of Albania including their wartime exile in the Thames Valley and Chilterns'', 2010 ({{ISBN|978-0-9550883-1-5}})

==External links==
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110514204047/http://www.albanians-in-exile.org/ Court of King Zog Research Society]}}
*[http://www.albanianroyalcourt.al Official website of the Albanian Royal Court]
*[http://albania.dyndns.org/ Maison Royale d'Albanie] {{in lang|fr}}
*[http://albania.dyndns.org/najbor.htm Histoire de l'Albanie et de sa Maison Royale 1443-2007]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060526202149/http://imageperfection.ca/albania/pic50.jpg Leka in military uniform with his wife]

===Historical video footage===
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/SOUTH-AFRICA-ALBANIAN-MONARCH-IN-EXILE-KING-LEKA-I-SPEAKS-OF-CRISIS/fbb3beed77aaac7ffcfedd5782fd8fea (12 April 1997) South Africa: Albanian Monarch in Exile King Leka I Speaks of Crisis]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-KING-LEKA-I-RETURNS-FROM-EXILE-IN-SOUTH-AFRICA/77d2a3cfd83ac62899fc695365d7cb1b (12 April 1997) Albania: King Leka I Returns from Exile in South Africa]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-TIRANA-SELF-PROCLAIMED-KING-LEKA-I-ARRIVES/5a6623501fd5f51ca03dbed9ffa4bac9 (12 April 1997) Albania: Self-proclaimed King Leka I Arrives]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-King-gets-unruly-reception/fe3c32ee88a523e109d7c404f749b34a (12 April 1997) Albania: King Gets Unruly Reception]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-Berisha-meets-exiled-King-for-talks/ba52bcbbca2d60011ca97dbe5e1ee894 (18 April 1997) Albania: Berisha meets exiled King for talks]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-SITUATION-UPDATE/e423a50bc7b6bf37f22070008d07033a (18 April 1997) Albania: Situation Update]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-KING-LEKA-MAKES-PILGRIMAGE-TO-HIS-FATHER-S-BIRTHPLACE/bccc5c206a95a79fb317929e9b08a9c2 (20 April 1997) Albania: King Leka Makes Pilgrimage to His Father's Birthplace]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-TIRANA-LEKA-ZOGU-S-SUPPORTERS-OPEN-FIRE-ON-POLICE/2fb87744fcd0623a6d2611cbf31cfed6 (3 July 1997) Albania: Leka Zogu's Supporters Open Fire on Police]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-Royalist-dispute/8109a44ffac0a442d7c7e16bcf128151 (3 July 1997) Albania: Royalist Dispute]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-Appeal-for-calm/de8162c4fcc4e56b94e36ee1b0891105 (3 July 1997) Albania: Appeal for Calm]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/ALBANIA-TIRANA-VICTIM-OF-SHOOT-OUT-AGIM-GJOONPALAJ-S-FUNERAL/f74b45ee0d9bee2c3142e5e18eff9e53 (5 July 1997) Albania: Victim of Shoot-Out Agim Gjoonpalaj's Funeral]
*[http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/Albania-Would-be-king-Leka-Zogu-departs/c62d044eeacb84ecf1c4dd0df1844f70 (12 July 1997) Albania: Would-be king Leka Zogu departs]

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Zogu]]|5 April|1939|30 November|2011}}
{{S-pre|}}
{{S-bef|before=[[King Zog]]}}
{{S-tul|title=[[King of Albania|King of the Albanians]]|years=9 April 1961 – 30 November 2011|reason=Monarchy abolished in 1946}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Leka, Prince of Albania]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leka, Crown Prince Of Albania}}
[[Category:Leka, Crown Prince of Albania| ]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Albanian businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Albanian military personnel]]
[[Category:20th-century Albanian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Albanian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Albanian military personnel]]
[[Category:21st-century Albanian politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]
[[Category:House of Zogu]]
[[Category:Albanian royalty]]
[[Category:Heirs apparent who never acceded]]
[[Category:Crown princes]]
[[Category:Princes of Albania]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Skanderbeg (1925–45)]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of St. Vladimir, 1st class]]
[[Category:People from Tirana County]]
[[Category:Albanian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Albanian anti-communists]]
[[Category:Albanian monarchists]]
[[Category:Albanian Sunni Muslims]]
[[Category:Albanian people of Hungarian descent]]
[[Category:Albanian people of American descent]]
[[Category:Victoria College, Alexandria alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of Aiglon College]]
[[Category:University of Geneva alumni]]
[[Category:University of Paris alumni]]
[[Category:Burials at the Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Children of prime ministers]]
[[Category:Children of presidents]]
[[Category:Pretenders]]