In an effort to spur interest in her ancestral country and in her humanitarian foundation, Princess Margarita of Romania spoke at the Kennedy School of Government on Wednesday to small crowd of mostly Romanians and students studying Romania.

The princess, who chairs the Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation USA, defended the monarchy led by her father and grandfather, contrasting it with the previous Communist rule, which she said "destroyed our unique culture."

Exiled since birth by the Communist regime installed in 1947, she also gave an emotional account of her discovery of her homeland after the regime was toppled in December 1989.

She described it as "the most important day in my life." She also said she found her country as "wounded," but also "warm, vibrant and beautiful."

Finally, the princess offered her views on the struggles Romania has faced since the end of Communism.

"Could things have been different?" she asked. "Definitely yes," she answered.

Princess Margarita said her country's poor state of affairs could be blamed on the lack of competitive political parties and world financial support and the lingering effects of the harsh Communist dictatorship.

The princess also blamed the U.S. and Western Europe for their hesitancy to help Romania, namely failing to include it in NATO and the EU.