Bucharest–Prince Nicholas De Roumanie, the third in line to the defunct Romanian throne, has been stripped of his title by his grandfather, with talk that the act was a result of family’s dissatisfaction with the longstanding, but unconfirmed rumor, that the 30-year-old is gay.

In a statement, the press office of Romania’s former King Michael expressed why he removed his grandson’s title.

“[The] Royal House and the Romanian society of those times will need a ruling under the sign of well balanced modesty, with moral principles, respect and always thinking of the others.”

The ‘king’ hoped his only grandson “will find in the upcoming years a right way to serve his ideals and to use the qualities that God gifted him with.”

An adviser to the King, Ioan-Luca Vlad, briefed the press on the decision, labeling it “an emotional disparity between Nicolae’s ideals and the House’s standards.”

The adviser added that Swiss-born, British-raised Nicolae, who only moved to the country (and began learning Romanian) five years ago, specifically to take up his royal role, “had involvement in professional sports and private activities that do not match the work of succession, had no diplomatic experience, and these challenges were too great.”

Inside word also suggested that the handsome prince moved out of the royal palace because he could not receive pizza deliveries there. The pizza parlors thought the orders were a joke when they heard the address Elisabeta Palace in Bucharest.

While the former king is on vacation and silent as to his thinking behind the move, it is said that he perceived that Nicholas has a lack of regal dignity. For example, while most had applauded his 1,000-mile bike ride across the country in aid of a literacy program, it did not please the King, who is said to have been dismayed at the future ruler allowing himself to be photographed sunburnt and unshaven.

Photo Credit: instinctmagazing.com