The departure of the Albanian royal family from the homeland because of the Italian fascist invasion sparked a special interest in the French press of the time.
The papers Paris-Soir (May 1939) and L'Intransigeant (July 1939) have published rare photographs of King Zog and Queen Geraldine during their arrival and departure from Istanbul.
Aurenc Bebja, through his blog "Dars (Klos), Mat-Albania", has brought them to the Albanian public:Paris-Soir (Sunday, May 7, 1939): The moment of the royal exile
No document had come since the dramatic events in Albania. Queen Geraldine, who had just become a mother, in a ill condition, had to leave hastily her kingdom. King Zog went next to her. Today, she has completely recovered. Together, they are in the new place of their exile: Istanbul.
The son of Queen Geraldine, still asleep, carried by his nurse, reaches Turkish soil.
A few moments later, the young woman still carrying attentively the baby.
L'Intransigeant (Saturday, July 8, 1939): The Way to France
King Zog of Albania and Queen Geraldine continue, during their exile, the road to England and France. They are waiting in the castle of La Maye, in Versailles, where they will reside.
We see them here in Istanbul, climbing the "Bessarabia" ship, to go to Constanta, Romania.