The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to visit France and Greece
7th – 11th May 2018
• The tour, undertaken at the request of The British Government, will highlight the UK’s strong bilateral ties with both countries;
• In France, Their Royal Highnesses will emphasise the UK and France’s commitment to counter terrorism and security, education and charitable enterprise as well as the country’s rich history in the areas of food and viticulture;
• In Greece Their Royal Highnesses will celebrate the UK and Greece’s longstanding maritime and military relationship, youth opportunity, charitable and education connections;
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will start the visit in Nice, where they will commemorate the attack which took place on Le Promenade des Anglais in July 2016. The Prince and The Duchess will also attend a reception to celebrate the longstanding links between Nice and the UK, including the fact that Her Majesty Queen Victoria regularly visited the city throughout her lifetime.
In Lyon Their Royal Highnesses will jointly attend a VE Commemoration to mark 73 years since the end of the Second World War in Europe.
His Royal Highness will visit The International Police Organization (INTERPOL) to highlight the UK and France’s role in international police cooperation. Their Royal Highnesses will also attend an event to celebrate the city’s rich culinary history.
Lyon hosts France’s second largest student population, and His Royal Highness will visit the ISARA University specialising in agronomy (the science of using plants for food, fuel and fibre), food and environmental studies.
The Duchess of Cornwall, a longstanding supporter of charities helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, will visit a local charity providing assistance to women.
Their Royal Highnesses will start their first official joint visit to Greece with a wreath-laying ceremony at The Monument to the Unknown Soldier, before receiving an official welcome at The Presidential Mansion and Prime Minister’s Residence. Later that evening The Prince and The Duchess will attend an Official Dinner hosted by The President of The Hellenic Republic and Mrs Vlasia Pavlopoulou. The Prince of Wales will be received by The Archbishop of Athens the following morning.
During their second day in Greece Their Royal Highnesses will visit the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Phaleron where His Royal Highness will lay a wreath. The Prince will then visit Piraeus for a series of engagements to celebrate the UK and Greece’s longstanding maritime relationship. This will include a visit to HMC Valiant, a border-force ‘cutter’ currently deployed in the Aegean Sea, and working with The Hellenic Coastguard to provide security and search and rescue support.
The Prince will also visit the Averoff, a Greek armoured cruiser which forms part of The Hellenic Navy and which played a key part during the First and Second World Wars. His Royal Highness will also be able to see the HNS Olympias, a full-scale replica of an ancient Greek ‘Trireme’.
The spouse of the Greek Prime Minister has invited Her Royal Highness to join her on a visit to the Benaki Museum, which showcases Greek civilisation and tradition. The Duchess will then visit the scenic Kaisariani Monastery located on Mount Hymettus overlooking Athens, where school children will be undertaking educational reading activities to mark Athens UNESCO World Book Capital 2018.
The Duchess will then visit a local shelter in Athens which provides assistance for survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Their Royal Highnesses will end their visit to Greece on Friday 11th May with a visit to Crete where The Prince and The Duchess will visit the Knossos archaeological site. Their Royal Highnesses will also visit a local charity which helps to find accommodation for migrant families in Crete, helping them to integrate with the local community.
Their Royal Highnesses will end their visit to Greece with a celebration of local produce, culture and heritage.
