Slovenia
The Earl of Wessex is in Slovenia, marking the first UK-Slovenian Friendship Day with a series of engagements.
His Royal Highness met Mr Borut Pahor, President of the Republic of Slovenia upon arrival and received a traditional Slovenian welcome of bread and salt.
The Friendship Day hopes to celebrate the relationship between the two nations.
In 1945, local Slovenians helped rescue British RAF airmen after their bomber was gunned down during WWII.
Later, The Earl met over 200 Duke of Edinburgh's International Award participants taking part in skills workshops.
The Award in Slovenia is currently operating in more than 70 schools and youth organisations, involving more than 1,800 Award participants a year.
The Earl and President Pahor planted a tree to commemorate #RoyalVisitSlovenia and the first UK-Slovenia Friendship Day.
His Royal Highness then took part in a British Slovenian Chamber of Commerce panel discussion with business leaders, looking at the importance of informal education for young people, a main focus of the International Award.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh visited Slovenia in 2008.
North Macedonia
The Earl of Wessex arrives in North Macedonia where His Royal Highness will undertake a series of engagements, highlighting the strong relationship the UK has with the country.
The Earl met the new President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski.
And later visited a pre-school to see first hand how UNICEF are enhancing early childhood development and promoting inclusive behaviour from a young age.
Later, His Royal Highness attended an event with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrove drawing attention to UK and North Macedonia cooperation an links.
Croatia
The Earl of Wessex arrived in Split, Croatia yesterday.
HRH attended a NATO dinner celebrating partnership with Croatia in defence and security, with senior representatives of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and Croatian armed forces.
In celebration of the rich history of shared learning and endeavours and the ongoing partnership between the two nations, The Earl visited a number of places and organisations.
His Royal Highness visited the Diocletian Palace in the Old Town of Split and was welcomed by the City’s Mayor Andro Krstulović Opara.
Later, HRH visited the Mestrovic Gallery to see the works of the famous sculptor Ivan Mestrovic, who exhibited in the V&A in London in 1915.
HRH also met Professor Miroslav Radman, a renowned scientist carrying out microbiological research in collaboration with Cambridge University.
For more on the work of The Earl of Wessex, click here.
