Princess Anne, the younger sister of King Charles III of Britain, is set to visit South Korea this week for events marking the partnership between the two countries and honoring British sacrifices during the 1950-53 Korean War. Accompanied by her husband, Vice Adm. Sir Tim Laurence, the royal couple will embark on a three-day trip starting Monday. This visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Battles of Imjin River and Gapyeong, significant engagements involving British forces during the Korean War.
During her stay, Princess Anne, also known as the Princess Royal, will participate in a commemorative ceremony at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan to pay tribute to British and Commonwealth service members who fought in the war and meet with Korean War veterans. Additionally, she will tour Ulsan, a port city in the southeast, to explore areas of bilateral cooperation in maritime, shipbuilding, and defense industries. The visit aims to strengthen the ties between South Korea and Britain, particularly in maritime-related sectors.
Princess Anne’s itinerary includes an event at Busan Port where representatives from both countries will engage in discussions regarding past and future bilateral exchanges in the maritime domain. Vice Oceans Minister Nam Jae-heon emphasized the significance of Princess Anne’s visit to Busan Port, highlighting the opportunity to reinforce the trust and collaboration between South Korea and Britain in maritime affairs. The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation between the two nations in various maritime-related fields.
Princess Anne is also scheduled to have a meeting with President Lee Jae Myung to explore avenues for enhancing relations between South Korea and Britain. The discussions will focus on strengthening high-level exchanges as “global strategic partners,” addressing security issues in key regions, and enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, and culture. This visit marks Princess Anne’s return to South Korea following her attendance at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
