Albania's Crown Prince Leka appears in high spirits on his 42nd birthday, after claiming his estranged wife Princess Elia and her father, 73, attacked him - with warring couple under orders to stay 5 metres apart

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Crown Prince Leka II has shared cheerful footage of his 42nd birthday celebrations, despite a recent legal battle with his ex-wife. 

Leka of Albania appeared in high spirits as he celebrated with his three-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine, at an intimate children's themed party. 

The jubilant mood marked a clear shift away from recent family turmoil that allegedly saw Leka involved in a physical altercation with ex-wife, Princess Elia, 41, and father-in-law, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia, 73.

Putting the alleged violence aside for his birthday, Leka and Geraldine appeared in high spirits as they enjoyed the party. 

Taking to Instagram, Leka wrote: 'Blessed with the love and grace of her soul on my birthday.' 

Crown Prince Leka appeared in high spirits as he marked his 42nd birthday with his daughter Princess Geraldine (pictured)

Leka, who turned 42 on 26 March, celebrated his birthday with a fun-filled party complete with a birthday cake, balloons, and party poppers. 

There were four paper plates laid out for the occasion, though it is unclear who else the 42-year-old celebrated his special day with. 

The father-of-one sported a suit for the occasion a long with party accessories, including a multi-colored hat and matching tie. 

Donning a baby pink outfit, Geraldine appeared merry as she celebrated her father - and helped him blow out his birthday candles before playing with balloons. 

Despite the upbeat celebrations, it comes after Prince Leka II and his ex-wife were ordered to keep a distance of five metres from each other following an alleged incident of domestic violence.

The Civil Court of Tirana signed two protection orders for Leka, 41, and Princess Elia Zaharia, also 41, following an alleged physical altercation between the former couple and Elia's father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia, 73.

The court ruling follows a video that surfaced online of Leka allegedly involved in a physical tussle with Elia and her 73-year-old father. 

The protection order comes two months after the pair, who share a three-year-old daughter, Princess Geraldine, announced the end of their marriage, saying the union had 'lost its function'.

The father-daughter duo were all smiles, despite recent family turmoil that saw the Prince allegedly involved in a case of domestic violence

The sour series of events continued this month during a court session, which determined that Leka can only see his daughter in the presence of a nanny, according to Tirana Post.

The court examined three separate protection claims during the session, one for Leka, Elia, and Elia's father Gjergj.

The glamorous mother-of-one was present for the appointment, while Leka was represented by his legal team.

Leka and Elia each filed claims for a protection order from the other; both of which were accepted by the court. However, Gjerj's application for a protection order was declined. 

It comes after Crown Prince Leka II sought police intervention following an alleged incident of domestic violence involving his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law.

A video surfaced online of Leka allegedly involved in a physical altercation with Princess Elia and her father, Gjergj Polikron Zaharia.

The Palace issued a statement after a clip of the fight surfaced online and claimed Leka was 'physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law' and had handed the video to the police as evidence.

Elia later broke her silence on the 'terrible' conflict and claimed her involvement in the fight was merely her trying to stop it, according to Albanian Daily News.

The glamorous mother-of-one claimed that she returned home to find Prince Leka is a tussle with her 73-year-old father.

Prince Leka of Albania and Princess Elia must keep five metres from each other, according to a new court ruling. Seen with their daughter Princess Geradine in 2021 

Prince Leka can only see his daughter, Princess Geraldine, three, in the presence of a nanny. Seen in 2021 

Crown Prince Leka and Princess Elia have caused shockwaves across Albania after a video surfaced online of the couple allegedly engaging in a physical brawl with Elia's 73-year-old father. Seen in 2022 with their daughter Princess Geraldine 

'It is a very difficult situation for me and my family, as it is not easy to return home and find Leka trying to violate my 73-year-old father,' she wrote.

'The conflict has nothing to do with me, except that I tried to stop it. I am following the judicial path for everything,' she added.

The Albanian royal court similarly issued a statement about the conflict via social media channels, and accused police of leaking the footage. 

The statement read: 'Prince Leka on the afternoon of March 5 was physically attacked with strong objects by his ex-wife and ex-father-in-law and the videos of this moment have been made public on social networks.

'The videos have been submitted only to the police station by Prince Leka ll Zogu, as material evidence for violence inflicted on him. But despite being considered a secret, these materials, together with the statement, circulated widely on social networks and in the media transmitting unpleasant images and with violent content.

'The Royal Court deeply expresses disappointment with law enforcement institutions that we suspect have violated the right to anonymity by distributing third-party videos.

'The Royal Court also seeks the intervention of the police and relevant institutions for deleting these images from social networks and media.'

Elia claimed she attempted to stop a physical altercation between her ex-husband and father. The pair are seen during happier times in 2021

The Albanian Royal Court addressed the drama on social media and sought police intervention 

MailOnline has contacted the Albanian royal court for comment.

It comes after the former couple, who were married in 2016, declared their separation via an official statement shared on Instagram.

Despite being a claimant to a now defunct throne following the dissolution of the Albanian monarchy in 1943, the prince and his glamorous wife had won over the public's hearts from the moment they tied the knot eight years ago.

The lavish ceremony was attended by more than 20 royal families from across the world, including Prince Michael of Kent - who is the second cousin of King Charles. 

In a translation statement, a spokesperson maintained that Princess Geraldine remained the centre of her parent's attention, while also pleading with 'well wishers' to respect the family's privacy.

Crown Prince Leka II and Princess Elia of Albania have announced the end of their eight-year  marriage in January. Pictured after their wedding ceremony in 2016

The message read: 'Hello friends and well-wishers, by means of this post I officially inform you that Prince Leka and Elia Zaharia have agreed to end their marriage.

'Since the marriage has lost its function, they saw the way to resolve it by mutual consent by starting the necessary legal procedures.

'Despite the trust in the institution of the family, Prince Leka believes that the values of mutual respect and understanding will form the basis of the relationship in its continuity, which will have as its motive the growth and education of Princess Geraldine!!!

'[Her] spiritual and physical well-being of the girl will remain at the center of their attention, dedicated to ensuring a happy and safe life for Geraldine.'

The statement also said that the prince would not be offering any further comment at this time - and requested that his 'right to privacy be respected regarding this matter'.

Albania's Crown Prince Leka II and Crown Princess Elia announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl named Geraldine in October 2020. The couple pictured in 2016

The couple, who were married in 2016 in the European nation's second ever royal wedding and the first since the end of communism, welcomed their daughter in 2020 at the Queen Geraldine Maternity Hospital in Tirana.

They named their daughter Geraldine - a meaningful tribute to the little one's paternal great-grandmother, Queen Geraldine, who died on October 22, 2002, 18 years to the day before her namesake's birth.

Queen Geraldine was married to King Zog I, who was the first monarch of Albania after it gained independence from the Ottoman Empire but fled his homeland in 1939 when Italy's fascists occupied the Balkan state. 

Despite the monarchy having been dissolved, Zog's son King Leka I remained head of the House of Zogu and claimant to the throne until his death in 2011 and was succeeded by his only son, Leka II.

The Crown Prince, who attended Royal Military College Sandhurst and has worked as an adviser to Albania's president, took over his father as head of the House of Zogu, and titular King of the Albanians.

Princess Elia, Prince Leka and Crown Prince Nicolas of Montenegro pictured at the 80th Birthday of King Simeon of Bulgaria in 2017

As Leka II currently does not have any sons, his current heir presumptive is Skënder Zogu, his first cousin once removed.

Leka II and Elia, who were engaged in Paris in 2010, also presided over the Queen Geraldine Foundation.

The prince has also worked as an adviser within the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Albanian Presidents Office, while the princess works at the Albanian National Theater.

Albania's royal family was expelled from the country in 1939 after it was invaded by Italian fascists.

After World War II, when the Communists took over the country, King Zog and his family were considered traitors and stripped from power completely and removed from history books.

Following their exile, the Albanian royal family spent time in Greece and Turkey before settling in England, where they briefly resided at The Ritz in London.

King Zog and his family then moved to Egypt before the monarch spent the remainder of his life in France.