It will be lead by a board of trustees appointed by the prince himself, including his local friend, the ethnic Hungarian Count Tibor Kálnoky.

According to a statement issued by the foundation, the prince will support Romania in rediscovering rural arts and crafts that have been all but forgotten. This will be followed by further support tailored to the needs of rural communities. Speaking to the Romanian television channel Digi 24, Prince Charles confirmed that this is the first foundation he established outside of the British Commonwealth, explaining that he is fond of Romania and has Transylvanian ancestors.

The heir to the British throne arrived in Romania on Sunday to meet the country’s president Klaus Iohannis before heading off to his retreat in the tiny ethnic Hungarian village of Valea Zalanului (Hungarian: Zalánpatak) in the Szekler Land.

According to a report by the ethnic Hungarian newspaper Háromszék, the prince sat on the jury of a mowing competition on Monday, which was won by Szekler mowers from Zalánpatak.

The Prince is known to be an admirer of Transylvania and has said that the region has a connection between man and nature that is almost unique in Europe today. He purchased several houses in the villages of Zalánpatak and Szászfehéregyháza in 2008 and again in 2013.

The British royal family is known to count Hungarians among its ancestors. Klaudia Rhédey, Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, was born in Erdőszentgyörgy (today: Ardusat) in 1812 and was raised in the family’s local palace.

Source: hungarytoday.hu

Republished with permission