King Oleg II

**King Oleg II** (Lashardian: *Żklackam Olegshövilasda*; full name: Oleg Karl Piet Pal; 17 April 1931 – 19 September 2010) was the King of Lashardia from 1987 until his death in 2010. Oleg was the eldest child of King Oleg I and his wife Queen Consort Leila. Upon his father's accession in 1937, he became heir presumptive. When his father died on 19 November 1987, Oleg II succeeded him as King.

In 1973, Oleg II married Pia Himmelölurk, a Lashardian nurse, with whom he had four children: Queen Sabina (b. 1976), Prince Aleks (b. 1978), Princess Karla (b. 1980), and Princess Rugia (b. 1984).

On 19 September 2010, Oleg II died in hospice after a year-long bout with melanoma. He was succeeded by his eldest daughter Sabina, becoming the first queen regnant of an independent Lashardia.

## Early life

Oleg II was born on 17 April 1931 in the King's Royal Hospital in the Hoffmann district of Ubenmoor, Lashardia as the first child of Crown Prince Oleg, later King Oleg I, and Duchess Leila, later Queen Consort Leila. His father was the eldest son of the first ever Lashardian monarch, King Piet.

When he was four years old, his younger brother Prince Piet was born. Prince Piet went on to marry Zakharian woman Duchess Marianna. When he was eight, his only sister Princess Maria was born. Princess Maria never married and never had children. When he was eleven years old, his youngest brother Prince Rok was born. Prince Rok went on to marry Duchess Evelina.

On 22 June 1937, King Piet died and Oleg II's father ascended the throne as King Oleg I.

## Education

Oleg II along with his siblings were educated by private tutors in their residence throughout their youth. As a child, Oleg II was said to have enjoyed Lashardian history, reading, and writing. He was awarded his high school diploma in 1949. Oleg II later began attending Queen's University with a major in Lashardian history, graduating in 1953. He later obtained a master's degree from Queen's University in Lashardian history in 1960.

Oleg II could speak fluent Lashardian, Rentuscan, Pesan, English, Adoriamian, and basic Zakharian.

## Marriage

Oleg II first met nurse Pia Himmelölurk in 1969, while he was being treated for an injured elbow after a skiing accident in Boras. Himmelölurk, who was sixteen years his junior, was the Crown Prince's nurse. Smitten with Himmelölurk, Oleg II asked for her phone number and received it. The two later began a romantic relationship. Their relationship brought about minor controversy, with the media accusing Himmelölurk of being a gold digger simply because she came from a working-class background and was a twenty-two year old in a relationship with a thirty-eight year old.

The couple became engaged in 1972, and married in the Royal Palace a year later. Pia gave birth to their first child, Sabina on 22 February 1976. Their second child, Aleks was born on 16 June 1978. Their third and fourth children, Karla and Rugia, were born on 23 December 1980 and 31 March 1984, respectively.

## Reign

### Succession

King Oleg I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 1986. He began chemotherapy treatment shortly thereafter, but it was later discovered that the cancer had spread to other parts of the body. By January 1987, he became noticeably ill and his diagnosis was made public. He had plans to abdicate the throne to his son before the end of the year, but died on 19 November 1987 before he could, at age 77. On the date of his death, Oleg II succeeded to the throne.

### Constitutional role

The King's main tasks were to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figurehead at home. He received foreign ambassadors and awards honors and medals. The King performed the latter task by accepting invitations to open exhibitions, attending anniversaries, inaugurating bridges, etc.

As an unelected public official, the King took no part in party politics and did not express any political opinions. Although he had the right to vote, he opted not to do so to avoid even the appearance of partisanship.

Once the government had been formed, it was formally appointed by the King. Officially, it is the King who is the head of government, and he therefore presides over the Council of State (privy council), where the acts of legislation which have been passed by the parliament are signed into law. In practice, however, nearly all of the King's formal powers are exercised by the Cabinet of Lashardia.

## Death

Oleg II was diagnosed with stage IV melanoma shortly after his 78th birthday in 2009. His diagnosis was kept secret from the Lashardian public, in order to avoid public fear. As time went on, his condition worsened. On 18 September 2010, he was put into hospice care, and died the next day on 19 September. His eldest daughter, Queen Sabina succeeded him as the monarch of Lashardia.

Oleg II's funeral service was held on 25 September in Saint Rikard's Lashardian Orthodox Church located inside of the Royal Palace. It was attended by the royal family and friends of the royal family. The public and media formed massive crowds outside of the palace where a memorial was created in Oleg II's honor.

## Personal life

The official residence of the King and the Queen Consort was Efterslot Palace located in Hoffmann, while their summer residence was Morningburg Palace in Vershando.

### Family

The King and Queen Consort had three daughters and one son.

* *Her Royal Highness* Queen **Sabina** Anastasia Olga Elizabeta of Lashardia (born 22 February 1976).
* *His Royal Highness* Prince **Aleks** Oleg Piet Rok of Lashardia (born 16 June 1978).
* *Her Royal Highness* Princess **Karla** Anjelika Maria Leonora of Lashardia (born 23 December 1980).
* *Her Royal Highness* Princess **Rugia** Maria Nora Evanjeline of Lashardia (born 31 March 1984).