“A ROYAL LOVE STORY MOVED FASTER THAN ANYONE EXPECTED…” — Leka, Crown Prince of Albania, 43, has married photographer Blerta Celibashi in a private ceremony, just five months after their engagement was announced — leaving royal fans delighted by the surprise news. 👑💍🎉

Crown Prince Leka of Albania is a married man again.

On March 15, the Royal Court of Albania announced that the Crown Prince, 43, had wed photographer Blerta Celibashi in a private ceremony, five months after their engagement was announced.

“The Royal Court of Albania has the special pleasure of announcing the marriage of His Royal Highness, Leka II, Prince of the Albanians, to Miss Blerta Celibashi. The marriage was celebrated in a private ceremony, preserving its intimate and solemn character,” began the announcement on Leka’s official Instagram page, translated into English.

“The official photograph published on this occasion was taken at the Apponyi Castle in Slovakia. The selection of this historic setting, residence of the noble family of Her Majesty Queen Geraldine, was made to honor her precious heritage and Hungarian origin, which remains an inseparable part of the history of the Albanian Royal Family,” continued the statement, which came with two photos of the newlyweds.

The court confirmed that the bride will now be called Princess Blerta and shared specifics about her new royal title.

“After the marriage, Princess Blerta will bear the family surname Zogu and the title Princess of the Albanians,” it said.

“The Royal Family shares this joyful news with the Albanian nation and with its friends around the world,” continued the communication, signed, “The Royal Court of Albania, Tirana, March 15, 2026

The update came with two photos of the newlyweds dressed in their wedding finery. Crown Prince Leka sported a classic morning suit, while his bride wore a white skirt suit. Princess Leka accessorized with a white hat with a birdcage veil — a fresh spin on a traditional bridal veil — and called a small bouquet of calla lilies.

The royal couple held hands and smiled at the camera in the first photo before Apponyi Castle and shared a look of love in the second snap.

The prince posted another photo on his Instagram Stories, which provided a peek behind the scenes of the big day. The black-and-white snap, taken from behind, showed the newlyweds walking down a path, their arms wrapped around one another, their heads leaning together.

Although the monarchy in Albania was abolished in 1946, Prince Leka is the current head of the House of Zogu.

His marriage to Princess Blerta marks his second marriage.

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Leka was previously married to Elia Zharaia, an actress and singer, from 2016 to 2024. The pair welcomed a daughter, Princess Geraldine, now 5, during that time. The former couple announced their split in January 2024, and their divorce was finalized in April of that year.

Prince Leka and Blerta took their relationship public in September 2024, and one year later, in October 2025, the Royal Court announced that they were engaged to be married.

“The Royal Family is pleased to announce the engagement of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leka II of the Albanians and Miss Blerta Celibashi,” began the engagement announcement, which came with two photos of the couple all dressed up.

“The engagement was celebrated with joy on 11 October 2025, in Ksamil, in the South of Albania, in the presence of family and close friends,” it continued. “The Royal Family shares its happiness with the Albanian people and expresses its heartfelt gratitude to all those who have conveyed their good wishes on this joyful occasion.”

The newly minted Princess Blerta is a photographer and runs the business Blerta C Photography in Tirana, and she stepped out with Crown Prince Leka for several events after they announced their engagement in the autumn.