News

News

TRH spend a second day in Poland

16th March 2010

The Prince of Wales saw some rare Polish horses during a visit to an ancient woodland today on the second day of his overseas tour to Poland.

The Duchess of Cornwall has a trapped nerve in her back and was forced to cancel her engagements with The Prince in Eastern Poland, but instead visited the British Embassy and the Chopin Museum in Warsaw.

His Royal Highness visited the Bialowieza National Park, located in North Eastern Poland, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The national park protects the best preserved fragment of the Bialowieza Forest – the last natural, primeval forest in the European Lowland area.

The park is high in biological diversity and is home to a breeding programme for the European bison, which The Prince viewed during his tour, as well as the native Tarpan horses.

Tarpan horses were once found across Poland but efforts are being made to re-introduce the rare breed and stem the decline.

One friendly horse poked its head through a wooden fence at The Prince, who scratched behind its ears.

The Prince, who wore a large beige coat against the cold, said: "They always like being scratched."

When the horse nuzzled The Prince's hands, he added: "I haven't got anything to give it!"

Afterwards The Prince travelled to the Kruszyniany Mosque to meet representatives of the local Tatar Muslim community who have lived peacefully in Eastern Poland from as early as the 13th Century.

When His Royal Highness arrived he was greeted by the Imam Janusz Aleksandrowicz and the President of the local Muslim community Bronislaw Tarkowski.

The Prince, who has a keen interest in inter-faith dialogue and tolerance, discussed the successful co-existence of religious minorities in Poland with representatives of the community.

Later in the day The Prince met with the Minister for Culture and National Heritage.

The Duchess of Cornwall spent the day meeting staff at the British Embassy and visiting the Chopin Museum in Warsaw.

After touring the embassy to meet staff The Duchess joined workers on a break in the canteen and bought a cup of tea.

Her Royal Highness was later taken to the Chopin museum and saw the interactive displays that allow visitors to play the composer's music.

Poland is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of the musician who is the country's greatest cultural icon.