Romanians get royal visit

Romania's former king arrived to spend his first Christmas in Romania since he was forced by the Communists to abdicate in 1947. King Michael, who lives now in Switzerland, came with his wife, Anne of Bourbon- Parma, and two of their daughters. She said the family intends to visit hospitals and orphanages, and meet President Emil Constantinescu, who declared himself a monarchist in the early 1990s, but has since changed his mind. Polls indicate that one in 10 Romanians favour a monarchy.

Reuters, Bucharest