HRH The Duke of Kent pays an official visit to Bulgaria
HRH The Duke of Kent visits Bulgaria on 7-9 April at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev.
The Duke of Kent
On 8 April His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, will participate in a commemoration service remembering the fallen heroes of the First World War. The ceremony will be attended by Bulgaria’s President, the Minister of Defence and Ambassadors from across the Diplomatic Corps. The ceremony will also focus on the reconciliation forged in the years since the war and include readings from representatives of many nations showing our shared future.
A separate ceremony will also take place in Plovdiv on 9 April.
HRH The Duke of Kent will host a UK delegation for a reception with Bulgarian partners. The delegation will demonstrate UK excellence in delivering large and small scale infrastructure projects. It will include leading UK infrastructure companies such as JC Bamford Excavators (JCB), JWS International and Atkins Global. They along with other UK firms will travel across Bulgaria, to Plovdiv and Burgas, to explore business opportunities and seek for local partnerships to deliver first class infrastructure projects.
HRH The Duke of Kent will also take part in the celebrations marking the centenary of the British Ambassador’s Residence in Sofia. These celebrations, launched earlier in the year and going throughout 2014, highlight the UK experience in Bulgaria and will help to develop business opportunities and cultural exchange between Britain and Bulgaria.
British Ambassador to Bulgaria HMA Jonathan Allen said:
I am delighted that His Royal Highness is coming to Bulgaria at the invitation of the President. This visit, coupled with thePresident’s visit to London and audience with the Queen, clearly demonstrates the deep and lasting friendship between Bulgaria and the UK. This is the second Royal visit to Bulgaria in as many years!
Notes to editors
About His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent was born in 1935. He is the son of the late Prince George, fourth son of King George V, and the late Princess Marina, daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. The Duke of Kent is cousin to both The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. In 1961, he became engaged to Miss Katharine Worsley. The couple have three children: George, Earl of St Andrews, born in June 1962; Lady Helen Taylor, born in April 1964 and Lord Nicholas Windsor, born on 25 July 1970.
The Duke and The Duchess of Kent undertake a large number of official Royal engagements. Each has close associations with many charities, professional bodies and other organisations.
About the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The CWGC maintains the graves of the 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died during the two world wars. It also holds and updates an extensive and accessible records archive.
The CWGC operates in over 23,000 locations in 153 countries across all continents except for Antarctica.
14-18: A series of high-profile worldwide events will take place to mark the centenary of the First World War, many of which will take place at Commission sites. The Commission will ensure that these sites are maintained to the highest standard and is installing information panels at over 500 sites to enhance the visitor experience. Smartphone users will also be able to access additional information, including the personal stories of some of those buried at the site.
The CWGC provides teachers and youth workers with a comprehensive range of educational resources and support materials so that future generations remain engaged in the work of the CWGC and continue to remember those who died in the two world wars.