Advertisement

Prince Charles visits Romania in post-Brexit charm offensive tour of European countries

Prince Charles arrives at Otopeni International Airport during day one of his visit to Romania: Getty Images
Prince Charles arrives at Otopeni International Airport during day one of his visit to Romania: Getty Images

Prince Charles spoke today spoke of the "enduring" friendship between Britain and Romania.

He said he was "deeply touched and grateful" for being awarded the Order of the Star of Romania, the highest civilian order in the country.

Charles also joked that his distant descendant Vlad the Impaler "has given me at least a small stake" in the country.

He went on, "It means a very great deal to me to have built a special partnership with Romania.

"I know that the United Kingdom has also built a very deep and special partnership with your nation."

Prince Charles is greeted by George Ciamba, state secretary in the Foreign Ministry. (EPA)
Prince Charles is greeted by George Ciamba, state secretary in the Foreign Ministry. (EPA)

"I know that will endure, as will my own," he said.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis praised the Prince's "extraordinary contribution to the relationship between our countries."

Prince Charles touched down in Romania in his post-Brexit charm offensive European tour today, hours after the Prime Minister signalled the start of Britain's exit from the European Union.

He arrived in Bucharest on an RAF jet at the start of a nine-day tour to Romania, Italy and Austria. He will be joined by his wife, The Duchess of Cornwall in Florence.

The trip is seen as an important part of the UK government's mission to reassure European Union nations that Britain remains a close ally despite its intention to quit the EU.

The prince is a regular visitor to Romania. His two properties are in Transylvania, famous for the Count Dracula stories, the character based on "Vlad the Impaler".

Charles is a great grandson 16 times removed to Vlad and jokes that "Romania is in my blood."

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales meets Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania. (Getty Images)
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales meets Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania. (Getty Images)

Links between the Royal Family and Vlad the Impaler, the 15th century nobleman whose deeds inspired the vampire legend, are being exploited in an attempt to lure tourists to the eastern European country.

The Prince himself appears in a video being used to promote the country in which he claims distant kinship with Vlad Tepes, the 15th–century Wallachian ruler on whom the Irish novelist Bram Stoker based his Dracula.

In 2015, he set up The Prince of Wales Foundation Romania, a charity that supports the East European nation's heritage, rural life and sustainable development.

On arrival the prince laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier and met British military serving in Romania.