Charles declares his ‘love’ for Romania during first visit as King

The King has declared his “love” for and “deep connection” to Romania as he marked a quarter of a century since he first visited the country.

The monarch was welcomed to Bucharest on Thursday afternoon by the president, a Guard of Honour and a reception hosted to celebrate his close ties to the nation.

In a speech at the reception held in Cotroceni Palace in the country’s capital, he told president Klaus Iohannis: “I can scarcely believe that twenty-five years have gone by since my first visit to this most remarkable country, although even before I came here I felt a deep connection to Romania.”

It marks his first trip abroad since being crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6, and he has chosen to travel to one of his favourite countries alone for a private visit of rest and recuperation.

Twenty-five years since his first visit in 1998, the monarch now has deep ties with Romania, where he owns at least 10 properties and makes an annual trip to walk through the picturesque hills and paint near his holiday home in the village of Viscri.

The surrounding countryside of his 18th-century home offers botanical excursions and plenty of nature for the green-fingered monarch, as well as hiking trails and horseback riding.

In his speech, he hailed the country’s natural beauty, saying: “I have come to love Romania – your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity.

“Romania has retained, in its ancient forests, pristine countryside, and through some remarkable examples of sustainable farming, an incomparable richness of nature.

“This is still home to many species of flora and fauna that have disappeared, or are threatened elsewhere in Europe and the world, which makes it all the more precious.”

The King’s countryside home offers him an opportunity to truly disconnect and enjoy his love of nature as there is no wifi, TV or radio in the Saxon house, which he bought in 2006. It is understood that there is a “small hi-fi player with CDs” in the drawing room now, however.

He has taken regular visits to Transylvania as the Prince of Wales, but this marks the first time a British monarch will have visited the country, although it is not an official state visit, despite the few official elements.

On Thursday, he talked of his “cherished” Romanian friends and all the charitable work he has done there in the last 25 years, including the Prince’s Foundation’s support to train craftspeople and architects across the country.

He said he “wanted to remind the world of everything that has always made Romania such a special country” and commended their “incredibly generous support to all our Ukrainian friends.”

The monarch also hailed his family’s historical ties with the county in his speech, explaining that the last Queen of Romania, Queen Marie, was the first cousin of his great-grandfather, King George V.

He noted too that his great-grandmother, Queen Mary, was descended from Countess Claudia Rhedey “with links that go back deep into Romania’s history” and his father was a  first cousin of King Mihai.

“So, if I may say so, I have always felt rather at home in Romania,” he quipped, after explaining his family’s roots there.

President Iohannis told the King that they were “honoured” to be his first visit abroad since the Coronation, adding that it sent an “extremely important message that Your Majesty’s bond with these lands remains as strong as ever.”

He said: “On behalf of all Romanians, I convey to Your Majesty our appreciation and gratitude for the genuine contribution in protecting and celebrating the values which are a core part of our national identity: nature, our country’s rural landscape and our rich cultural heritage.

“The locals speak about how, due to Your Majesty’s interest, the beauty of their villages and traditions has managed to cross borders.

“You have reminded them how precious traditions, customs and crafts passed down from generations are.”

The President added that Britain and Romania celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the launch of their Bilateral Strategic Partnership in 2023, noting that this declaration “paved the way for intensified cooperation between our countries.”

The King and president Iohannis had held face-to-face talks before the reception on Thursday, which were followed by a meeting with state authorities and representatives of the civil society.

After the official duties were completed, the monarch decamped to his Transylvania home, nestled in acres of wildflower meadows and hiking trails, and will remain there into early next week.