So Said Friends After He Was Exiled From Romania

If you're a king, what do you do after you lose the throne? Consider the case of King Michael, exiled from his homeland of Romania as the communists took over and the Iron Curtain fell in 1947, was literally out in the cold.

"I have much sympathy with the King of Romania who acted with courage in the difficult situation of his country and was most ungratefully treated by the Soviet," wrote then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Indeed, Michael went to England, but was broke and homeless -- entirely dependent upon the kindness of strangers.

"I hope he may be considerately and courteously treated during his exile, which may not be permanent," Churchill wrote in documents just released by Britain's National Archives. "I do trust that he can be accorded diplomatic privileges to the utmost possible extent. I should be glad if you would turn a friendly eye on this exceptional case."

Churchill was writing to his foreign secretary, Anthony Eden.

Eden's response was to suggest that King Michael get a job -- perhaps as an airline pilot.

"Mr Eden has been considering what can be done to assist King Michael. He thinks that he should be encouraged to take a job," the secretary wrote. "King Michael is a qualified air pilot and he knows a great deal about internal combustion engines."

Perhaps King Michael was listening. 

Eventually, he moved to Switzerland, where he reportedly became a test pilot for an American aircraft manufacturer. In 1990, as communism was failing throughout Europe, he returned to his country for all of a day before being thrown out. Seven years later, however, he returned and has since been granted the return of some of his family's property.

FMI: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk