Romania: Ex-king Michael who ruled during WWII dies at 96

Michael, who had leukemia and another type of cancer and was withdrawing from public life, had handed over his responsibilities to his oldest daughter, Margareta.

Romania’s royal house says former King Michael, who ruled the country during WWII, has died in Switzerland aged 96.

This file photo taken on January 08, 1948 shows former Romanian King Michael the First of Romania, posing for a photograph in Lausanne. (AFP File photo)

The royal house said in a statement that Michael, one of the few surviving leaders from that period, died Tuesday lunchtime in his residence in Aubonne, Switzerland.

His family announced last year that Michael had leukemia and another type of cancer and was withdrawing from public life, handing over his responsibilities to his oldest daughter, Margareta.

This file photo taken on May 10, 2011 shows Romania's former King Michael (C) and his daughter Princess Margarita (R) leaving the National History Museum after a book launching during the ceremonies marking King's Day in Bucharest. (AFP File Photo)

Michael, a great-great grandson to Britain’s Queen Victoria, first acceded to the throne in 1927 when he was 6, ruling for three years after his father Carol II eloped with his mistress and renounced his rights to the throne.

He became king again in 1940 after Carol abdicated again. Michael reigned until communists forced him to abdicate in 1947.