THE EARL OF WESSEX WILL VISIT SLOVENIA, NORTH MACEDONIA AND CROATIA
From 14th to 17th May 2019
His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex will undertake official visits to Slovenia, North Macedonia and Croatia from Tuesday 14th May to Friday 17th May at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Slovenia: Tuesday 14th May to Wednesday 15th May
In Slovenia, His Royal Highness will mark the first ‘UK-Slovenia Friendship Day’ with the President of the Republic of Slovenia, in recognition of the enduring partnership between the two nations. The Earl and the President will speak at a ceremony commemorating Slovene villagers who cared for fallen RAF airmen during World War Two. His Royal Highness will be the Guest of Honour at the British Embassy’s Queen’s Birthday Party at Ljubljana Castle, and will also join the President and over two hundred young Slovenians at a Duke of Edinburgh International Award event. His Royal Highness will afterwards meet local business leaders and discuss how the business community can encourage non-formal learning to develop future skills, an ethos supported by the DofE International Award.
North Macedonia: Wednesday 15th May to Thursday 16th May
The Earl’s visit to North Macedonia will draw attention to the strong cultural links between the UK and North Macedonia and celebrate examples of the UK’s support for the country in establishing stability and prosperity, particularly for the next generation. During The Earl’s visit, His Royal Highness will meet the new President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, and will attend a reception with young leaders and opinion formers, accompanied by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. The Earl will also visit a kindergarten to see a programme implemented by UNICEF which aims to enhance early childhood development and promote inclusive behaviour at a primary school age, giving way to greater social cohesion in future years. His Royal Highness will also attend an event with young people working on sustainable solutions for urban planning, fashion and biodiversity and hear about education initiatives running in schools with the support of the British Council. The Earl’s visit to North Macedonia comes exactly 13 years after His Royal Highness opened the new British Embassy in Skopje, on 16th May 2006.
Croatia: Thursday 16th May to Friday 17th May
In Croatia, The Earl will undertake engagements which celebrate the rich history of shared learning and endeavours and the ongoing partnership between the two nations, in defence, trade and cultural exchange. The Earl will visit the Diocletian Palace in the Old Town of Split and attend a NATO dinner celebrating partnership with Croatia in defence and security, with senior representatives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Croatian armed forces. The Earl will meet students at Split’s First Gimnazija music academy to mark a 25- year collaboration with Dover’s Astor College. The Earl will visit ICE Marine Design’s new office, a UK venture aimed at boosting the local economy. The Earl will also visit the Mestrovic Gallery to see the works of the famous sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, who exhibited in the V&A in London in 1915. His Royal Highness will conclude the visit by meeting Professor Miroslav Radman, a renowned scientist carrying out microbiological research in collaboration with Cambridge University.
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