Geraldina, 87; Was Queen of Albania Until Start of World War II

Geraldina, 87, the queen of Albania until fascist Italy invaded the country at the beginning of World War II, died Tuesday in Tirana, Albania, after suffering four heart attacks earlier in the day.

Geraldina, who lived in exile since the royal family fled Albania in 1939, had been living in South Africa but returned to Albania in June after 40 members of Parliament invited the family back. Throughout her years of exile, Geraldina maintained that her only son, Leka, was Albania’s legitimate ruler.

Born into a noble Hungarian family as Geraldina Aponi in 1915, she married King Zog in 1938. Ahmet Zogu, a Muslim chieftain, had created Albania’s monarchy in 1928 when he declared himself king. He died in 1961 in Paris.

Albania’s monarchy was abolished by the country’s communist rulers in 1946. The former queen’s son has said he will not get involved in Albanian politics unless the population votes to reinstate the monarchy.