BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania’s royal family says former King Michael has leukemia and will withdraw from public life and hand over his responsibilities to his oldest daughter.

Royal Council spokesman Andrew Popper said Wednesday the 94-year-old former king is recovering from recent surgery. He said the former monarch has “chronic leukemia” and a type of skin cancer.

Michael was king from 1927 to 1930 and then from 1940 until 1947 when he was forced to abdicate by the communists.

He lived in exile in Switzerland and Britain until 1997, and worked briefly as a chicken farmer and commercial pilot.

In recent years he has performed some ceremonial duties.

Popper said Michael would hand those duties to Princess Margaret who would “find the wisdom and strength to represent me and fulfill my public duties.”

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