Britain's Prince Charles traveled to Romania's capital Wednesday to visit refugees, mostly women and children, from Russia’s war in Ukraine who have found safety in the neighboring Eastern European country.
Romania_Ukraine_Prince_Charles_82012 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Margaret, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, offer presents to refugees during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Alex Micsik/Pool via AP)
Alex Micsik/Pool via AP
Romania_Prince_Charles_21178 Britain's Prince Charles, left, listens to the head of Romania's Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) Raed Arafat, right, after a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Ukraine_Prince_Charles_73421 Britain's Prince Charles holds the hand of a child during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Alex Micsik/Pool via AP)
Alex Micsik/Pool via AP
Romania_Prince_Charles_23289 Britain's Prince Charles smiles after visiting a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Prince_Charles_84733 Britain's Prince Charles exits a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Ukraine_Prince_Charles_11585 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Margaret, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, speak to refugees during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Alex Micsik/Pool via AP)
Alex Micsik/Pool via AP
Romania_Prince_Charles_09622 Britain's Prince Charles gestures after visiting a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Prince_Charles_70321 Britain's Prince Charles, left, shakes hands with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.(AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru
Romania_Ukraine_Prince_Charles_57697 Britain's Prince Charles and Princess Margaret, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, speak to staff members during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Alex Micsik/Pool via AP)
Alex Micsik/Pool via AP
Romania_Ukraine_Prince_Charles_01408 Britain's Prince Charles walks with Raed Arafat, right, the head of Romania's Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (Alex Micsik/Pool via AP)
Alex Micsik/Pool via AP
Romania_Prince_Charles_23911 Britain's Prince Charles exits a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Prince_Charles_35639 Britain's Prince Charles arrives at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Prince_Charles_00664 Britain's Prince Charles, center, listens to the head of Romania's Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) Raed Arafat, right, during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda
Romania_Prince_Charles_76120 Britain's Prince Charles, center, listens to the head of Romania's Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) Raed Arafat, right, during a visit at a center for refugees fleeing the war in neighboring Ukraine, at the Romexpo convention center, in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, May 25, 2022.(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Britain’s Prince Charles traveled to Romania’s capital Wednesday to visit refugees, mostly women and children, from Russia’s war in Ukraine who have found safety in the neighboring Eastern European country.
The Prince of Wales visited the Romexpo Donation Centre for Ukrainian refugees in Bucharest. There, he met some of the nearly 1 million Ukrainians who have reached Romania since the war began on Feb. 24, and observed the relief effort being mounted by the government and volunteers.
Speaking to a group of Ukrainians through an interpreter, Charles apologized for his lack of language skills, saying, “I wish my Ukrainian was better.”
“We feel for you greatly, it’s a nightmare situation,” he said. “I’m full of admiration for the Ukrainian people. Total, extraordinary courage and resilience.”
During his visit, Charles received a gift from some of the Ukrainian children at the center: wooden spoons painted in traditional Ukrainian patterns.
“Marvelous, thank you, thank you,” Charles told one of the children. “I love the way you painted that.”
Joining Charles were representatives of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the U.N. refugee agency, as well as the mayor of Bucharest and members of other state relief agencies.
Over 1,000 Ukrainians visit the donation center daily to get free supplies like food, hygiene products, clothing and shoes, according to the managers of the facility. Refugees also have access to social services and counsel while they remain in Romania.
The visit was the latest of a number of engagements Charles has had with Ukrainian refugees in recent weeks. According to the British Embassy in Bucharest, he visited a Ukrainian community in Ottawa, Canada last week, where he met with a family displaced by the war.
More than 972,000 Ukrainians have fled into Romania since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, according to the U.N. refugee agency.
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