Prince Charles and Camilla begin visit to Poland

[March 16, 2010]  WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- Britain's Prince Charles arrived in Poland on Monday with his wife, Camilla, to start a nine-day tour that will take them through central Europe.

Charles, wearing a dark suit, and Camilla, dressed in red and clutching a handbag, were welcomed in the afternoon in the courtyard of Poland's presidential palace by President Lech Kaczynski and the first lady, Maria Kaczynska.

The couples shook hands on a red carpet, posed for photographs, then walked into the palace, passing through a door festooned with British flags.

Later, Charles and Camilla laid a wreath at the grave of the Rev. Jerzy Popieluszko, a priest who was kidnapped and killed in 1984 by Poland's communist-era secret police. Popieluszko, who was aligned with the anti-communist Solidarity movement of Lech Walesa, is considered a martyr for the faith by the Vatican and is to be beatified in June.

The royal couple also met with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

After three days in Poland, they will travel to Hungary and the Czech Republic, a trip aimed at promoting Britain's relations with the three ex-communist countries, all of whom are now European Union members.

[Associated Press]

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