The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will pay an official visit to Greece next week to mark the bicentenary of the country’s independence.
Prince Charles and Camilla will visit Athens from 24-25 March for two days of Independence Day celebrations at the request of the British Government and following an invitation from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
During their visit, Prince Charles and Camilla will attend a reception at the National Gallery of Greece hosted by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday. They will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square and watch a traditional military parade on Thursday before departing for the United Kingdom.
Clarence House notes that the royal couple and the Royal Household will take all “necessary measures to comply with COVID19 regulations and guidance” while in Athens.
Prince Charles and Camilla have previously visited Greece in May 2018. Prince Charles has visited twice in an official capacity, in 1998 and 2018.
Last year, as the coronavirus pandemic began, Prince Charles wrote an article for Ta Nea, a Greek newspaper saying: “The resilience of Greece and her people has been tested before, and I hope that the country will once again emerge with renewed vigor and optimism.
“When that moment comes and the world has made its way through this challenging time, my wife and I do so hope to visit Greece and to see you all again.”
Greece celebrates 200 years of independence this year with a series of events and celebrations to commemorate the past while also looking to the future of modern Greece.
According to the Greece 200 website, the country plans to “emphasize the modern relevance of the Greek Revolution; personalize the celebrations of the Greek Bicentennial, with a focus on family, friends, and community; memorialise Modern Greek culture and history and its impact on the West; [and] unite the young Hellenic diaspora.”
