A popular Romanian prince has been stripped of his title by the country’s former king in a move that has shocked the country.And it’s reignited long-standing but totally unproven rumors the prince is gay.

Prince Nicholas De Roumanie, who was third in line to the defunct throne after his aunt and mother, was told last week his title was being removed due to ‘moral principles’.

Romania is a republic so the title means little, with the monarchy abolished in 1947. But the country is still very proud of its former royal family, with the press calling Nicholas the ‘people’s prince’.

In a statement, the press office of the former King Michael expressed why he removed his grandson’s title.

‘[The] Royal House and the Romanian society of those times will need a ruling under the sign of well balanced modesty, with moral principles, respect and always thinking of the others.’

The ‘king’ hoped his only grandson ‘will find in the upcoming years a right way to serve his ideals and to use the qualities that God gifted him with’.

Born in Switzerland, raised in England and having lived in Romania after university, Nicholas is a favorite with the public.

In April, he cycled 625 miles from the northern hills of Transylvania to the sea port of Constanta to raise money for children’s health.

But, Nicholas said: ‘The royal life means leading my life in a way I find hard to accept. For this reason, I accept with a lot of pain in my heart the decision of His Majesty King Michael for me.’

Some tabloids have speculated a jealous relative wanted the unmarried, liberal and literate prince ousted from the family so another could take his place in the line of succession.

The king is now 93 so questions of succession are increasingly urgent.

Others, especially on social media, have suggested the rumors that have surrounded the young royal’s sexuality have finally got too much for the family.

‘So Prince Nicholas finally told his family he’s gay? That has to be the worst coming out ever,’ one said, in a joke, on Twitter.

Nicholas has never commented on the speculation and has not confirmed whether he is straight, gay or bisexual. The claims he is gay appear to be wild rumors, without any evidence provided to back them.

And there is no proof King Michael is homophobic or would reject his grandson for that reason.

Gay Star News has contacted the former prince for a comment and is awaiting a response.