King Charles visits Romania while Prince Harry awaits London court

King Charles embarked on a trip beyond the borders of the United Kingdom, coinciding with the impending court appearance of Prince Harry in London. 

The monarch ventured to Bucharest, Romania, on Friday for a private visit to the country. 

This excursion marks King Charles' first international trip since his coronation alongside Queen Camilla on May 6. 

Upon his arrival at Cotroceni Palace, the 74-year-old sovereign was warmly received by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, who presided over a grand military Guard of Honor. 

Subsequently, King Charles and President Iohannis engaged in a bilateral meeting, which was followed by a reception hosted by the president in Union Hall at the prestigious presidential palace. 

In his brief address, he expressed his admiration for Romania, undoubtedly leaving a lasting impression on the occasion.

“I can scarcely believe that 25 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. 

Your own much-loved Queen Marie was, as you well know, the first cousin of my great-grandfather King George V, while Queen Mary, my great-grandmother — whom I remember well — was descended from Countess Claudia Rhedey with links that go back deep into Romania’s history,” King said. 

The monarch further expounded upon his personal connections with local organizations, shedding light on his deep admiration for the impactful work of FARA, a charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable young individuals within families. 

He proudly mentioned the support provided by The Prince's Foundation to Associata Monumentum, an organization focused on training skilled craftspeople and architects. 

“As I have said before, I have come to love Romania — your culture and art, your heritage and history, your sweeping landscapes and priceless biodiversity."

“I am enormously grateful to many people in this audience for their kind help on so many occasions and projects."

King Charles' official trip commences as Prince Harry prepares to testify against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) in a London court next week, accusing them of unlawful information gathering.