History
Designed by architect Aleksandar Đorđević, Beli dvor is a severe neo-Palladian structure that was inspired by 18th century English houses such as Ditchley Park. Its interiors were decorated with English Georgian and 19th century Russian antiques by the French design firm Jansen, which later decorated the White House during the administration of John F. Kennedy.
While the Old Palace (Royal Palace) was being built, King Alexander I wanted to build a house for his children.
After the King's assassination in 1934 in Marseille, Queen Maria and the couple's sons, including the 11-year-old King Peter II, continued to reside in the Royal Palace (within the Royal coompound) as well as the sprawling Novi Dvor (New Palace) in central Belgrade, which was the royal family's official residence, and is now the Presidency of Serbia. Construction of Beli dvor continued, however, and it was completed in 1936. Although historians often say that the building was completed in 1937, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia was born in the White Palace in 1936, so it is safe to say that it was completed at that time.
It became the residence on loan to the Prince Regent and his family in waiting for King Peter II's majority.
After World War II, when the Communist government seized control of Yugoslavia, Beli dvor was used by presidents Josip Broz Tito and later by Slobodan Milošević.
After revolution on October 5, 2000, the Royal Family, then living in the United Kingdom, was invited to return to Yugoslavia, and it did so, in 2001. Crown Prince Alexander, his wife, Crown Princess Katherine, and his three sons Prince Peter, Prince Philip and Prince Alexander, by his first wife, Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans Braganza, now live in the Royal Compound.
Beli dvor is open to the public on weekends, for regular visits, during the tourist season, from April to November.
The Royal Compound has also participated in Tourism Fairs in Belgrade and Novi Sad and during the Days of the European Cultural Heritage.,
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)