Prince Radu represents Margareta, the custodian of the Romanian crown, on a two-day visit to Alsace, in the cities of Soultzmatt and Haguenau, according to the Royal Family of Romania.

„Precisely one hundred years ago, on April 9, 1924, King Ferdinand I and Queen Marie began their state visit to the French Republic. The sovereigns of Greater Romania stopped for a day in Alsace, where they were guests of Soultzmatt and Strasbourg and inaugurated the Romanian Military Cemetery. As of today, April 9, 2024, the Prince Consort is representing the Custodian of the Romanian Crown on a two-day visit to Alsace, in the cities of Soultzmatt and Haguenau.’

Radu is accompanied by Romania’s Deputy Chief of Defence Iosif Bencze, representative of the 30th Mihai Viteazul Guard Brigade Catalin Moga, soldiers of the 30th Guards Brigade, Romanian Invictus veteran soldiers, as well as chancellor of the Royal Family Traian Sarca.

Also part of the official retinue are Romania’s ambassador to France Ioana Bivolaru, Metropolitan Joseph of Western and Southern Europe, Romania’s ambassador to the Council of Europe Ion Jinga, acting Consul General of Romania in Strasbourg Remus-Constantin Maraescu, and defence attaché Octavian Biclineru.

On Tuesday, Radu was welcomed at Soultzmatt City Hall by Jean-Paul Diringer, the mayor of the city, deputy mayors and local councillors. Metropolitan Joseph was awarded the key to the city of Soultzmatt.

In the afternoon, Radu took part in a military and religious ceremony celebrating the centenary of the Romanian Military Cemetery.

After the arrival of all the guests, Metropolitan Joseph provided a religious service, and then the national anthems of Romania and France were played. Speeches were delivered and then wreaths were laid on behalf of the French and Romanian state bodies. Later, a documentary film was shown, and a historical evocation was read by children from schools in Soultzmatt. The guests planted two linden trees, one in honour of the centenary of the Romanian Military Cemetery and another to celebrate the introduction of the cemetery in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

This was the fifth visit of the Romanian Royal Family in 2024, after Prince Radu’s trade mission to Moldova (February), Princess Sofia’s visit to Poland (February), Princess Maria’s visit to the UK (March) and the visit of the Custodian of the Crown Margareta to Belgium (March).

AGERPRES