Today we are holding a series of events here in Bucharest to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This is only the second time in our long history that the British sovereign has celebrated a Diamond Jubilee, and it is a celebration that we are sharing with friends around the world, most particularly with the people of Romania.
I am delighted that His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is joining the celebrations in Bucharest this Jubilee Year. Since the first establishment of diplomatic relations just over 130 years ago, Britain and Romania have been close partners and allies. Our royal houses were joined in a dynastic union with the marriage of Princess Marie of Edinburgh and Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania in 1893; our countries were allies in the First World War and in the final defeat of fascism in the Second. After the aberration of communism, the end of the Cold War in 1989 marked a return to our close and strategic partnership, with Romania’s accession to NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.
Today Romanians and British are closer than ever before, studying together at university, serving together in EU and NATO missions in Afghanistan and around the world, acting together in commerce and in charitable work in Romania and the UK. So, to all Romanians, we are proud and happy to share this national celebration with you, to look back on the trials and achievements of the last sixty years, and with confidence to the future.
God Save The Queen!