The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall started their nine day tour of central Europe Monday, beginning with a three day stint in Poland. The point of these visits is to strengthen ties with the former communist nations who are now part of the European Union.
AP Photo/Alik Keplicz
“The visits reflect the importance which the government places on its relationships with its central European partners, two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall,” a spokesperson from Clarence House, the royal couple’s London residence, said.
“The themes of the tour include highlighting co-operation on environmental and heritage protection, the military, faith and minority communities, culture and youth employment.”
Charles and Camilla arrived in Warsaw in the afternoon and were greeted by President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria at the presidential palace.
After initial welcomes and a photo op, the Prince and the Duchess met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk and his wife Malgorzata.
Later, the royal couple went to lay a wreath at the grave of the Jerzy Popieluszko, a Roman Catholic priest who was kidnapped and killed by Poland’s communist-era secret police in 1984. Popieluszko is considered a martyr by the Vatican and is to be beatified as a saint this June.
In the evening came a state dinner hosted by the Kaczynskis’.
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