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Prince Charles ends official visit to Romania
Prince Charles on Friday afternoon ended a three-day official visit to Romania, where he met governmental officials, leaders of cultural oganistaions and NGOs.
On the first day of his visit, the royal laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Carol Park in Bucharest City and was awarded the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross decoration by President Klaus Iohannis as a token of high esteem for the Prince's activity in Romania and for his promotion of Romania's picture abroad.
On Thursday, the Prince of Wales toured the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum of Bucharest, the Vacaresti Delta Nature Park and the FARA Romania Foundation. Also on Thursday, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu and Patriarch of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church Daniel. In the evening, he went to Elisabeta Palace and he was celebrated at a reception party hosted by the Athenee Palace Hilton Hotel.
On Friday, the last day of the visit, the royal took a stroll in the capital city's old town, where he visited the Stavropoleos Church, after which he watched a show at the National Theatre. Prince Charles ended his visit with a call on the Cass Sperantei Hospice, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in Romania.
În the Hospice Casa Sperantei (Hospice House of Hope) in the Capital, the children benefit from the services of the daycare centre, sitting with them at the table where they were decorating Easter eggs.
His Royal Highness was greeted by founder of the organization, Graham Perrols, and the executive director, Mirela Nemteanu.At the end of his visit, His Royal Highness met with supporters, sponsors and partners of Hospice Casa Sperantei, among them being also former Health Minister, Vlad Voiculescu, as well as film critic Irina Margareta Nistor.
Alongside Prince Charles, Ambassador of the UK to Romania Paul Brummell and Mayor of the District 2 Mugur Mihai Toader also visited the Hospice Casa Sperantei (Hospice House of Hope).
'Hospice Casa Sperantei' is a charitable foundation established in 1992 with the purpose of improving the quality of life for persons with incurable diseases and their families. The foundation has as a mission the development of palliative care services, through the formation of some professionals that would be active in Southeast Europe. Moreover, on a national level, the organization draws attention on these subjects through support, promotion, education and fundraising activities.
The first centre with integrated services of palliative care was opened in 2002 in Brasov, and in 2005 the Hospice services extended to Bucharest, through the implementation of mobile teams that would grant home care to the sick. In 2008, such mobile teams were implemented in Fagaras and Zarnesti too. 2014 saw the inauguration of a modern centre for palliative care, and two years later the paediatrics section with integrated care services opened.
Since its establishment in 1992, the organization offered services to more than 20,000 patients. The foundation is an authority in matters palliative care education, with over 11,000 graduates of specialty courses, both in Romania, as well as in neighboring states. The services of the foundation are free and offered unconditionally to patients and their families. The organization has over 200 employees and is also aided by 200 volunteers.
Prince Charles also paid a brief visit to the Capital's Old Centre on Friday, among the landmarks visited by His Royal Highness being Manuc's Inn, one of the oldest in Europe, and Stavropoleos Church.
In Savropoleos Church, His Royal Highness witnessed a short religious music performance and visited a photo exhibition organised by "Pro Patrimonio" Foundation, and received from priest Iustin Marchis a book on Oltenia. Moreover, the Prince of Wales admired the old art collection of the church.
The stroll through the Old Centre of Bucharest was included in the schedule of the last day of the official visit His Royal Highness is paying to Romania.