The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam
News
His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Bao Long, the eldest
son and heir of of the late Emperor Bao Dai, the last monarch of
Vietnam, died in Paris on 28 July 2007 at the age of 71, according to a
family spokesman
Prince Nguyen-Phuc Bao Long was born
at the
Kien-Trung Palace in the Purple Forbidden City, Hue, on 4 January 1936,
eldest son of Emperor Bao Dai by his first wife, Empress Nam Phuong. He
was educated in Vietnam and France, and underwent military training at the
École Militaire de St Cyr (Coëtquidan, France) and the École d'Instruction
de la Cavalerie et de l'Artillerie (Saumur, France).
Appointed as
Heir Apparent with the style of Dong-Cung
Hoang-Thai Tu, 17th September 1938, the Prince was
invested in an elaborate Mandarin ceremony at the Palace of Can-Chanh, in
the Purple Forbidden City, Hue, on 7 March 1939. Granted the style of
His Imperial Highness on 18
June 1945, he came of age and was confirmed as Heir Apparent on 15 June
1954. The Prince represented Vietnam at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth
II at Westminster Abbey, in London on 2 June 1953.
The Prince
was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st
Armoured Cavalry Regiment of the French Foreign Legion on 14 July 1955,
served in Algeria 1955-1958, retiring as Captain in 1958. Honorary
Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment of Musketeers, 1949; Honorary Colonel
of Imperial Guard, Vietnamese Army. He received the
Kim Boi medal 1st
class, Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit of Vietnam (15 June
1954), the Order of the Legion of Honour, the Cross of Military Valour
with red, silver and bronze stars (1958), France’s North Africa Medal
(1997) and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).
The Prince
retired from a long career in investment banking and lived quietly for
most of his adult life in London and Paris.
He succeeded
on the death of his father as Head of the Imperial House of Vietnam and
Sovereign of the Imperial Orders on 31 July 1997.
His Imperial Highness is survived by his brother and
successor, Prince Bao Thang, by his sisters, Princesses Phuong Mai
(Madame Badoglio, Dowager Duchess of Addis Abeba), Phuong Lien (Madame
Bernard Soulain), and Phuong Dong, a half brother, Prince Nguyen-Phuc Bao
An, two half sisters, Princesses Phuong Tao and Phuong Minh, three nieces
and one nephew.
(with special acknowledgement to Mr. Christopher Buyers of
“The Royal Ark” for biographical details)
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