Princess Anne to visit Cyprus tomorrow

Her Royal Highness Princess Anne will undertake an official visit to Cyprus from Tuesday January 10 to Wednesday January 11, it was announced on Monday by the British High Commission (BHC).

Princess Anne’s tour will include a visit to the UN Buffer Zone and to the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) at Dhekelia.

A statement released by the BHC said that the visit – an invitation from UN peacekeepers – “will allow Princess Anne to meet and thank the serving British peacekeepers from The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment and The Royal Logistic Corps for whom Her Royal Highness is the Colonel-in-Chief.”

The visit will also recognise their service and contribution to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp).

Princess Anne will accompany the regiment on a tour of the UN Buffer Zone and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery at Wayne’s Keep, where she will lay a wreath at the Cypriot memorial.

During her visit, she will also attend a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus Irfan Siddiq at his residence.

The Princess will also be received by President Nicos Anastasiades at the Presidential Palace, before concluding her visit at the SBA in Dhekelia where she will meet members of the British Armed Forces and their families as well as open a new school for the children of serving personnel.

“I am pleased to welcome Her Royal Highness to Cyprus,” Siddiq said.

“Her visit is an important opportunity to showcase the strength of the enduring links between our two countries through our friends and partners, from the President of the Republic to our peacekeepers.”

Princess Anne’s last visit to Cyprus took place in February 2016. The last members of the Royal Family to visit the island were the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, in June 2022.