King Charles III
Arrived in Romania for hiking holiday
Romanian President Klaus Johannis received Charles in Bucharest.
© Getty Images/MIHAI BARBU/AFP
King Charles III has arrived in Romania. On his mostly private trip, the monarch plans to draw strength from nature.
King Charles III (74) has arrived in Romania. As reported, among other things, by the “Daily Mail”., the British monarch was officially received by President Klaus Johannis (63) in the Romanian capital Bucharest today, Friday. For Charles it is the first trip abroad since his magnificent coronation on May 6th. Queen Camilla (75) does not accompany her husband on the mostly private trip.
King Charles’ possessions in Romania
Charles only has official appointments on Friday. He will hold personal talks with President Johannis. Later that evening, an official reception is on the agenda before Charles retires to his possessions in Romania. The king is said to call more than ten houses in the country his own. Charles has been traveling to Romania regularly since 1998.
The monarch is expected to spend the remainder of his private vacation in the country. Among other things, he owns a property in the Zalan Valley, where there is said to be no television, radio or internet. King Charles III plans to spend his time hiking in the breathtaking landscape, painting and reading.
Close connection to Romania
The monarch has family ties to Transylvania and is believed to be the descendant of Vlad the Impaler – also known as Prince Vlad Dracula. The name is said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s (1847-1912) 1897 novel. The monarch’s maternal great-great-great-grandmother, Claudine Countess Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde (1812-1841), also came from the region.
During his visit last year, the self-confessed nature lover Charles said: “There is a sense of age-old continuity here. A virtuous circle in which man and nature are in balance.” Romania is “in his blood”. He also founded the Prince of Wales Foundation Romania to support the development of agriculture, traditional skills and the preservation of historic buildings.
His last visit was at the end of May 2022. At that time he visited a Ukrainian refugee center in Bucharest and started a reforestation project.