The exhibition, running until February 28, was opened by his grandson György Habsburg and Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest. Some objects on display were used during the ceremony, including two thrones for the royal couple, a book of ceremonies and a velvet cushion made for the event to hold the crown.

The Historia Domus, a volume containing all important events of Matthias Church between 1898 and 1991, is also on display, along with Queen Zita’s gift box showing her initials.

Habsburg told the opening event that his grandfather, a commissioned soldier, was fully aware of the horrors of war and did everything in his power to put an end to it. Charles IV was crowned the king of Hungary after the death of Franz Joseph I on December 30, 1916 and he renounced the Hungarian throne on November 11, 1918. Pope John Paul II declared him “Blessed” in a beatification ceremony held on October 3, 2004.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Kovács Attila