| Elia Zaharia | |
|---|---|
 Pictured in 2016 | |
| Born | Elia Zaharia 8 February 1983 Tirana, Albania |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Princess Geraldine |
| House | Zogu (by marriage) |
| Father | Gjergj Polikron Zaharia |
| Mother | Yllka Mujo |
| Religion | Albanian Orthodox |
| Signature |  |
Elia Zaharia (born 8 February 1983) is an Albanian actress, former singer, and the ex-wife of Leka, Prince of Albania. [1] [2] [3] [4]
She was born on 8 February 1983 in Tirana, Albania. She is the daughter of Gjergj Polikron Zaharia (b. 1952) and Yllka Mujo (b. 1953), who are both actors. [5] Her father is from Përmet while her mother's family come from Podgorica, Montenegro. They moved to Shkodër, a city in northern Albania, later during the monarchist period. She has a younger brother, Amos Muji Zaharia. Both her mother and brother are famous artists in Albania, her mother being a well-known actress, and her brother an actor and film director. [6]
In 2002, she graduated from the National Art School Jordan Misja in Tirana in art and scenography and later moved to Paris for her university studies, where she met Prince Leka. In 2005, she graduated from the National Conservatory of Bordeaux in art drama. She then attended a private French drama school in Paris, Cours Florent, and then continued her studies in scenic acting at the Paris 8 University, graduating in 2010.
Elia Zaharia has performed in several plays at the National theatre including:
Zaharia also acted in movies and performed as a singer. In 2002, she had the main role in 'Lule te kuqe, lule te zeza', while in 2008 she acted in the movie Honeymoon by Goran Paskaljevic.
From 1999 until 2002, Elia took part in a musical band called “Spirit Voice”.
In 2016 and 2018, Elia co-hosted Kënga Magjike, a major musical event in Albania, together with Ardit Gjebrea.
In Paris she met Prince Leka of Albania and in May 2010 they got engaged. [7] [8] Since then she has accompanied the Prince on all his visits and meetings with members of other royal families. She is also head of the Queen Geraldine Foundation, a non-profit founded by the Royal Court. [7] According to its website, the "foundation aims to be close to the Albanian families who need help [and to] children who need care." [9]
On 27 March 2016, it was announced by Prince Skënder Zogu (b. 1933), a member of the Albanian Royal Family, that the couple would get married on 8 October 2016 in the Royal Palace in Tirana. [10] The ceremony was a non-official ceremony, held in Tirana in the Royal Palace, [7] with more than 300 members of other European noble and royal families attending. The couple's civil marriage was officiated by the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj. [11]
Among the members of the Royal families, who attended the wedding were: Queen Sofía of Spain, Empress Farah of Iran, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Princess Léa of Belgium, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia and other members from the royal families of Italy, Liechtenstein, Romania, Greece, Georgia, Montenegro, Morocco and members of other noble families. Heads of state of Albania also attended the ceremony. [12]
She gave birth to a daughter on 22 October 2020 at Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana, on the 18th death anniversary of Queen Geraldine, after whom she was also named. [13] In January 2024, Princess Elia and Prince Leka both confirmed that they were getting a divorce. [14] They divorced on 25 April 2024.
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Fidelity. [15] 
Zog I was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939).
The House of Zogu, or Zogolli during Ottoman times and until 1922, is an Albanian dynastic family whose roots date back to the early 20th century. The family provided the first president and the short-lived modern Albanian Kingdom with its only monarch, Zog I of Albania (1928–1939).
Geraldine was Queen of the Albanians from her marriage to King Zog I on 27 April 1938 until King Zog was deposed on 7 April of the following year.
Leka, Crown Prince of Albania 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 Albanian throne, and his supporters referred to him as King Leka I.
Susan, Crown Princess of Albania was the Australian-born wife of Leka, Crown Prince of Albania.
Leka, Prince of Albania is the current head of the House of Zogu, the former royal family of Albania.
Sadije Toptani was queen mother of Albania from September 1928 until her death. She was the mother of Zog I of Albania.
Tati Essad Murad Kryeziu, Prince of Kosova was the heir presumptive to the throne of Albania from the creation of monarchy, under King Zog I, on 1 September 1928 prior to the birth of Crown Prince Leka on 5 April 1939.
Yllka Mujo is an Albanian actress, especially known for her roles in Albanian movies during the communist regime. For her acting credits she was given the title Merited Artist of Albania.
The National Theatre of Albania was the main theatre in Tirana, Albania. In March 2020, the National Theatre of Albania was selected by Europa Nostra among the 7 most endangered monuments in Europe, as an exceptional example of modern Italian architecture from the 1930s and one of the most prominent cultural centers in Albania, facing impending threat of demolition. On 17 May 2020, the National Theatre building was demolished.
The Presidential Palace, formerly the Royal Palace and popularly known as the Palace of Brigades, is the official residence of the president of Albania. The palace was commissioned by King Zog I of the Albanians to serve as his main official residence.
The Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family is a building in Tirana, capital of Albania, which holds the remains of King Zog and other members of his family.
Princess Senije Zogu (1903–1969) was an Albanian princess. She was the daughter of Xhemal Pasha Zogu and Sadije Toptani, his second wife, and was the third of six sisters of King Zog I of Albania. When her brother became monarch in 1928, she and her siblings were granted the status of Prince and Princess Zogu. She was the chairperson of the Albanian Red Cross and the women's organisation Gruaja Shiqiptare in 1928–1939.
Skënder Zogu is an Albanian author and member of the House of Zogu. He is the son of Prince Xhelal Zogu, half-brother of King Zog.
Princess Ruhije Zogu (1906–1948), was an Albanian princess.
Princess Myzejen Zogu of Albania, was an Albanian princess. Initially excluded from public life and seen little in public, the Princess later represented her brother the King at many royal activities. At the beginning of World War II, the Princess left Albania. In 1940, Myzejen followed his brother the deposed king into exile in Great Britain. Subsequently, together with her sisters, the Princess went to live in France, although she never stopped worrying and committing herself for her native land, Albania.
Princess Maxhide Zogu (1907–1969), was an Albanian princess.
Princess Nafije Zogu (1896–1955) was an Albanian princess.
Leka is an Albanian male name and surname. In the Balkans, it has spread in the forms Lecca (Romanian), Lekkas (Greek), Lekić (Serbo-Croatian).
The Regalia of Albania is a royal regalia that existed during the Albanian monarchy. The regalia worn by Albanian nobles, spanning various aristocratic families, included royal symbols, artifacts, and ceremonial aspects. These regal emblems were emblematic of the monarchy's power and heritage, representing a broader spectrum of Albanian noble history. The historical and cultural value attached to these symbols transcends individual families, signifying the collective richness of Albania's noble traditions throughout different periods.
