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Romania’s Former King Michael Dies in Switzerland at Age of 96

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Romania’s Former King Michael Dies in Switzerland at Age of 96
Romania's former King Michael waves during a ceremony celebrating both his 92nd birthday, which fell on October 25, and his name day at Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest, on Nov. 8, 2013. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo)
Reuters
12/5/2017
Updated:
12/5/2017

BUCHAREST—Romania’s former King Michael died in Switzerland at the age of 96 on Tuesday, the Royal House was quoted by Digi 24 TV as saying on Tuesday.

King Michael of Romania withdrew from public life because of illness in 2016.

A cousin of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, Michael was forced to abdicate in 1947 after the post-war Communist takeover of Romania and has lived in exile in the West for decades. He underwent surgery for leukaemia and cancer.

By Radu Marinas
Romania's exiled King Michael and his wife Anna are surrounded by well-wishers as he arrives in his homeland for a five-day visit, a week after the new centrist government restored his citizenship, on Feb. 28, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael and his wife Anna are surrounded by well-wishers as he arrives in his homeland for a five-day visit, a week after the new centrist government restored his citizenship, on Feb. 28, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael talks with an Orthodox priest during his visit at Timiseni monastery, near the Romanian city of Timisoara, 600 km, (375 miles) west of Bucharest, on April 26, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael talks with an Orthodox priest during his visit at Timiseni monastery, near the Romanian city of Timisoara, 600 km, (375 miles) west of Bucharest, on April 26, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael (C) holds a candle as he attends the Orthodox Easter midnight mass together with his wife Anna and Bishop Nicolae at the Orthodox cathedral of Timisoara, 600 km, (375 miles) west of Bucharest on April 27, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sighteti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael (C) holds a candle as he attends the Orthodox Easter midnight mass together with his wife Anna and Bishop Nicolae at the Orthodox cathedral of Timisoara, 600 km, (375 miles) west of Bucharest on April 27, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sighteti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael waves to supporters at the Orthodox cathedral in Timisoara, 600 kilometres (375 miles) west of Bucharest, as his wife Anna looks on April 29, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's exiled King Michael waves to supporters at the Orthodox cathedral in Timisoara, 600 kilometres (375 miles) west of Bucharest, as his wife Anna looks on April 29, 1997. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Former Romanian King Michael waves to supporters beside Queen Anne on the terrace of Elisabeta Palace, a former royal residence in Bucharest, on May 18, 2001. (REUTERS/File Photo)
Former Romanian King Michael waves to supporters beside Queen Anne on the terrace of Elisabeta Palace, a former royal residence in Bucharest, on May 18, 2001. (REUTERS/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael (L) and his wife Queen Anne (R) wait for visitors at Elisabeta Palace on Michael's name day in Bucharest, on Nov. 8, 2004. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael (L) and his wife Queen Anne (R) wait for visitors at Elisabeta Palace on Michael's name day in Bucharest, on Nov. 8, 2004. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael I leaves the Romanian Atheneum during the celebrations of his and Queen Ana's 60th wedding anniversary in Bucharest on June 10, 2008. (REUTERS/Mihai Barbu/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael I leaves the Romanian Atheneum during the celebrations of his and Queen Ana's 60th wedding anniversary in Bucharest on June 10, 2008. (REUTERS/Mihai Barbu/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael waves to his supporters after a celebration concert marking his 90th anniversary at the National Opera in Bucharest on Oct. 25, 2011. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael waves to his supporters after a celebration concert marking his 90th anniversary at the National Opera in Bucharest on Oct. 25, 2011. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael receives flowers as he leaves after laying a wreath at the statue of King Carol I, the founder of Romania's royal dynasty, in Bucharest on May 10, 2012. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael receives flowers as he leaves after laying a wreath at the statue of King Carol I, the founder of Romania's royal dynasty, in Bucharest on May 10, 2012. (REUTERS/Radu Sigheti/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael (C), accompanied by his daughter Princess Margareta and his nephew Prince Nicolae, waves during a ceremony celebrating both his 92nd birthday, which fell on October 25, and his name day at Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest, on Nov. 8, 2013. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo)
Romania's former King Michael (C), accompanied by his daughter Princess Margareta and his nephew Prince Nicolae, waves during a ceremony celebrating both his 92nd birthday, which fell on October 25, and his name day at Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest, on Nov. 8, 2013. (REUTERS/Bogdan Cristel/File Photo)