* Bilateral trade between the UK and Romania is more than £10 billion (up by six percent)
* Paintings by the late Queen Marie of Romania (the granddaughter of Queen Victoria) were on display
* To mark the day, there was a flypast by two Royal Air Force Typhoon
And next week the BBC Romanian Service will be relaunched in Bucharest at a time when disinformation is growing and press freedoms are being eroded.
UK Ambassador to Romania, Giles Portman, made this speech to guests on June 18 on the occasion of King Charles III’s birthday party.
Charles is a close friend of Romania which he has visited many times since the late 1990s, staying at some of the property he owns in the Transylvania region. He tirelessly promotes Romania, its rural traditions, its links to Britain and sustainable farming. He remains one of the most popular figures in Romania.
Domnule Președinte, doamnelor și domnilor,
Îmi face mare plăcere să vă urez bun venit la reşedinta britanică la petrecerea de Ziua Regelui. Vă mulțumesc tuturor că sunteți aici!
We have, as you can see, done it differently this year. A more personal event for our valued partners and friends. An event that celebrates not only His Majesty King Charles’s birthday and our brilliant bilateral relationship, but also community, culture and commerce.
I’m delighted that, in the residence, you’ll find artwork by Queen Marie of Romania from the collection previously exhibited at the Garrison Chapel in London and the King’s House in Viscri and showing Queen Victoria’s grand-daughter’s love for the flowers of her adopted country and her interest in decorative symbolism.
Alongside Queen Marie’s art are two pieces produced a century later by her relative, King Charles, and showing that same love for the unspoiled landscape and rich biodiversity of this beautiful country.
And, in the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Romanian sculptor, Constantin Brancusi, I’m really grateful that we have been generously loaned a small collection of art and memorabilia in his honour.
All of this is on view in the residence, which will be open straight after the speeches and toasts are over, so do please enter through the front door and have a look.
Our sponsors today help tell the story of a thriving, two-way commercial relationship which has seen our bilateral trade go up by six percent this year and surpass £10 billion.
Vodafone’s acquisition of Telekom Romania and its role in the provision of the Romanian government cloud showcase British digital excellence and innovation and confirm its strategic commitment to and confidence in this market.
Rezolv Energy, with its major renewable energy investments and ambitious future plans, highlights just how much the UK-Romania energy partnership is driving the green transition.
Evryo Group also shows how international cooperation strengthens Romanian energy resilience and modernisation.
Provident Financial marks 20 years of providing consumer finance services in Romania.
DNATA Catering showcases world class British standards supporting Romanian global connectivity.
In the other direction, Aqua Carpatica is a great success story of premium Romanian products coming to the UK market.
And Therme Group is leading the way in wellbeing and urban regeneration through its £450m Manchester investment.
I thank all our sponsors and partners this evening: we appreciate all your contributions, and I encourage everyone to engage with all the sponsor activations on display.
Our shared effort to keep all our people safe, through our defence, security and law enforcement cooperation, was exemplified in today’s flypast by two Royal Air Force Typhoons on NATO air policing and two Romanian F16s. Russia’s continued attempt to redraw the map of Europe by force, indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Ukraine and increasingly irresponsible incursions into Romania, make it more important than ever that we advocate and pressurise for peace, but respond together to threats and build our ability to deter aggressors.
And all the more important too, in the face of continued hostile external disinformation, that we value quality information – which is why it is such great news that the BBC Romanian Service is re-launching here later this month.
Last year, I spoke about the ever greater importance and success of the Romanian diaspora in the UK, and I’m delighted that in two weeks’ time I’ll be in the British parliament to help launch the first major study into the contribution the diaspora makes to the United Kingdom.
It reminds me that, as diplomats, we need to engage beyond the walls of our Embassies, which is why, this evening, with the kind permission of the local authorities, we’ve taken the party outside, creating a truly British, Carnaby-street style celebration. I want to welcome some of my neighbours who are joining us tonight; thank all of them for their understanding; and also thank one of our favourite neighbours, the brilliant Museum of Recent Art, or MARe, who have kindly agreed to open their doors to all our guests this evening. Once again, culture and community combined.
Thank you again everyone for coming. Thank you to the entire Embassy team for everything we have achieved together this year. And it gives me great pleasure to invite the President of the Senate to speak.
Mulțumesc și o seară buna!
Bucharest downpour adds mood to UK-Romanian ‘Diplomacy in Fashion’ event
