Prince of Wales to travel to Estonia in support of British troops
The Prince will visit the Mercian Regiment in his role as their Colonel-in-Chief, joining them for training under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces along the border.
He will meet with Alar Karis, the president of Estonia, who recently called on European countries to increase their defence spending and spoke to Sir Keir Starmer in the wake of Donald Trump and Volodymr Zelenky's public fallout in the Oval Office.
The Prince's trip, in which he will join soldiers for a field training exercise, is designed to show support for the British Armed Forces and their contribution to Nato's defence of its Eastern flank, and is his first visit to Estonia.
While there, he will also visit a school for displaced Ukrainian teachers and children, where he will take part in sports and a Ukrainian language lesson, and a renewable energy start-up in line with his interest in the environment.
He will also meet Estonian soldiers and engage in a handover ceremony between The Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment.
The Prince will visit the Armed Forces welfare team and the canteen at Tapa camp, and watch as new weapons systems and tactics are deployed on the ground. It was planned about six months ago, before the recent escalation in tensions between the Ukraine and its allies.
The trip, said a palace source, will demonstrate the 'close relationship between the crown and armed forces' which is 'extremely close to the Prince's heart and extremely important in his role'.
It will give the Prince the opportunity to build a new relationship with the Estonian leader and its people, furthering the 'deep, close ties' between nations.
The Royal family has recently been active in its support of the military, with the Duke of Edinburgh visiting The Royal Dragoon Guards in January to attend a cold weather training exercise in Harju County, and the Princess Royal meeting with The King's Royal Hussars in 2023.
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: 'The Prince of Wales will travel to Estonia from Thursday 20th March to Friday 21st March to visit the Mercian Regiment in his role as Colonel-in-Chief and learn about how they are bolstering Nato's eastern flank as part of Operation Cabrit.
'Whilst in Estonia, His Royal Highness will also carry out engagements in Tallinn to learn more about how the country has responded to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and how Estonia is innovating in renewable energy and technology.
'This will be the Prince's first ever visit to Estonia.'
There are currently 900 British personnel deployed in Estonia, training and working to 'deter aggression and uphold stability' in eastern Europe, according to the Ministry of Defence.
John Healey MP, the Defence Secretary, has previously said: 'Our presence here is a powerful message to our allies and adversaries: the UK stands ready to defend its allies and uphold our shared values, all year round.'
The Ministry of Defence describes the Mercian Regiment as being 'at the heart of the action, providing the fighting element of the British Army's forces'.
The late Queen visited Estonia in 2006, Prince Charles in 2001, and Prince Harry in 2014.
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