BUCHAREST: British King Charles III was received military honours at Romania’s presidential palace in Bucharest on Friday as he initiated his first and solo visit to the eastern European country after the coronation.
According to AFP, anthems of Romania and Great Britain sounded out as the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, who attended Charles’ coronation in London in May, welcomed the newly crowned King.
The red-carpet welcome episode would follow a reception attended by over 300 people, including many government officials and civil society members. This is the first visit of King Charles to Romania and abroad since he was crowned King on May 6 2023. However, the duration of his visit still needs to be discovered.
According to Buckingham Palace, the King has kicked off his first overseas visit since his coronation, travelling to Romania for a private solo stay in the Transylvanian region of the country.
The official program comprises meetings with Romanian state authorities, diplomats, and civil society representatives as per reports received from the Presidential Office Romania.
King Charles Priorities in Romania
After Bucharest, the King is expected to travel to the rural region of Transylvania, a location where he owns some properties and has paid several visits in the past.
He is also expected to spend a few days in the bucolic region, first heading to the village of Valea Zalanului and then winding up his trip in the hamlet of Viscri-an area where he first visited in 1998 and received a warm welcome from people of the area.
The house he bought there in 2006 was initially an occasional princely residence. However, later he transformed the house into a museum dedicated to botany, one of his favourite hobbies.
In the context of his visit, royal correspondents mentioned that the king will be away when Prince Harry returns to the UK next week to give evidence in a phone-hacking trial against a tabloid publisher at London High Court. AFP
