Prince William has praised Poland’s "remarkable example of courage".
The 35-year-old royal is currently on a five-day tour of the European country at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as part of an effort to maintain good relations with European countries in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the EU, and whilst in the capital city of Warsaw, he gave an empowering speech about the ties between the two nations.
He said: "The links between Britain and Poland go back centuries, and are steeped in a rich history of cultural exchange and close commercial relations.
"Shakespeare’s plays were performed in Poland – and indeed in Polish – very soon after they were first staged in London.
"Around the same time, grain merchants from Poland were plying their trade into Britain, pathfinders for the many entrepreneurs and skilled workers who make the same journey in both directions today.
"We admire Poland as a remarkable example of courage, fortitude and resilience. You have survived centuries of assaults on your land, including partitions that were designed to wipe you off the map of Europe.
"In the 20th century, Poland displayed incredible bravery in resisting brutal Nazi occupation, not least the heroic uprising in Warsaw’s Jewish ghetto in 1943, and the Warsaw Rising of 1944."
William – who is being accompanied on his trip by his 35-year-old wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and their children Prince George, three, and Princess Charlotte, two – then added he hopes Britain and Poland’s strong links continue, as they offer "promise and opportunity".
He continued: "There is much to celebrate about the warmth of our relationship today. We are partners in NATO and, for the first time since the Second World War, British troops are stationed in Poland.
"And Polish is now the second most spoken language in the United Kingdom, with a generation of young people growing up who feel both British and Polish. Such links – diplomatic, military, cultural – offer much promise and opportunity for the future."
The Prince concluded his speech by reading out a message from his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who reflected on her last visit to Poland in 1996.
The 91-year-old monarch’s message read: "Prince Philip and I send our warmest good wishes to all of you attending this special Garden Party on the occasion of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first official visit to Poland.
"We have fond memories of our visit to Poland in 1996, when we experienced its world-renowned hospitality in Warsaw and Krakow. I am delighted that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be able to experience this for themselves in Warsaw and Gdansk.
"In 1996, I spoke about the depth of British-Polish relations, dating back nearly a thousand years, and it gives me great pleasure that the friendship between our two nations and peoples has since gone from strength to strength. I have no doubt it will continue to prosper in the years to come."
Prince William praises Poland’s ‘courage’
