Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, departed from Greece on Thursday following two days of bicentennial celebrations.
Earlier in the day, the couple attended a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Syntagma Square, where the heir to the throne laid a wreath and the UK national anthem was played.
The couple then observed the Independence Day Military Parade.
In Athens, Their Royal Highnesses join representatives from Greece, Cyprus, France and Russia at the Monument of the Unknown Soldier for a wreath laying ceremony.
HRH lays a wreath at the memorial, which is dedicated to Greek soldiers who died during conflict.#RoyalVisitGreece pic.twitter.com/oEWjrGKXqj
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 25, 2021
As part of the Bicentenary Independence Day celebrations at Syntagma Square, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall view a military parade by members of the Hellenic Armed Forces, followed by a flypast.#RoyalVisitGreece pic.twitter.com/AkWGzQuW7m
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 25, 2021
They then joined President Katerina Sakellaropoulou and her partner Pavlos Kotsonis for tea at the presidential mansion.
Charles told the president that he and his wife were "touched" that they were invited to Athens to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek revolution.
It was a particularly moving moment when The Prince of Wales, during their tour of the Presidential Guard, gifted a photograph of his father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, dressed in the Evzone uniform as a 9-year-old boy. 2/2 @ClarenceHouse @RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/XTEjEvQGwS
— President GR (@PresidencyGR) March 25, 2021
At Athens City Hall, the Mayor of Athens Kostas Bakoyannis presents The Prince of Wales with the Gold Medal of Honour for services to the city and to Greece.#RoyalVisitGreece pic.twitter.com/uRQhoESJ07
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 25, 2021
Later, Charles was awarded the City of Athens Gold Medal of Honour by Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis at the City Hall.
The city's highest honour recognises "a proven friend of Greece and Hellenism, and especially a friend of Athens, its history and its civilization," Bakoyannissaid.
Noting Britain's signal contribution to the liberation of Greece, the mayor recited examples of British support after the Greek War for Independence broke out in 1821, and said Greece honours the British who fought with them and died alongside with them.
The heir to the throne said he was “enormously touched” to have been presented with the accolade, the City’s highest distinction, which he will always treasure.
Charles said the mayor has “made such strides in ensuring that Athens becomes a great example of sustainability”, adding: “Because it is crucially important it seems to me that cities like Athens and all around the world are much more involved in the drive towards greater sustainability, decarbonisation of the economy and indeed a regeneration of biodiversity.”
“In the meantime, I shall wear this medal with great pleasure and pride as it will always remain as something I shall treasure as a result of this visit to Athens but also of your great kindness and consideration to me after all these years," he concluded.
https://twitter.com/ClarenceHouse/status/1375116863479353347
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall’s visit to Greece has come to an end.
Thank you to all those who welcomed Their Royal Highnesses to Athens this week. #RoyalVisitGreece pic.twitter.com/0JmFwkWmlr
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 25, 2021
*More on GCT: “Greece has long held the most special place in my heart,” says Prince Charles
