Britain’s King Charles love of Romania is no secret. Until recently, when he was crowned and later diagnosed with cancer, he visited the country every year to soak up the beautiful countryside and recharge his batteries.
In a warm four-paragraph letter congratulating new President Nicusor Dan, the king said that Romania had in Britain “the closest of friends and partners,” praising the more than one million Romanians who live in Britain.
The UK royal has been visiting Romania, where he owns properties in Transylvania and has a foundation almost every year since 1998, and is considered one of Romania’s best friends on the international stage.
So it was no surprise then that he personally wrote to Nicusor Dan to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential runoff where he saw off a fierce nationalist contender. Charles first met Dan in 2022 when the former was the Prince of Wales and the latter was mayor of Bucharest.
In his letter, Charles expressed affection and hope that under Dan’s leadership, British-Romanian relations would flourish as the countries pursue similar goals. The letter was given to President Dan on Monday by British Ambassador Giles Portman and published by the British Embassy, as the former mayor of Bucharest was sworn in and took office.
“Your tenure starts during a period of great uncertainty in Europe and in the world. Together, we face many challenges, from countering climate change and protecting Nature, to ending the terrible conflict in Ukraine,” he wrote.
“I know that under your leadership not only will the relationship between our countries flourish, but we shall remain united in our work together, including in our support for Ukraine and the stability of the region.”
King
Here is the full text of the letter:
“Dear Mr. President,
My wife (Eds: Queen Camilla) and I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to you on your election as President of Romania.
Your tenure starts during a period of great uncertainty in Europe and in the world. Together, we face many challenges, from countering climate change and protecting Nature, to ending the terrible conflict in Ukraine. I recall very well my visit in 2022 to the Romexpo Centre in Bucharest, where we met when you were Mayor. I know that under your leadership not only will the relationship between our countries flourish, but we shall remain united in our work together, including in our support for Ukraine and the stability of the region.
I reflect fondly upon my time spent in Romania over the last twenty-seven years, having travelled across the country and come to know and cherish your country’s art, culture and architectural heritage, as well as all the people of Romania that I count myself so lucky to have met.
I know that, in the United Kingdom, Romania has the closest of friends and partners, a relationship made all the closer and vibrant by the presence of the flourishing Romanian diaspora here, who contribute so much to our country.
Charles R.”
