Custodian of the Crown, Her Majesty Margareta, and Prince Radu welcomed military personnel participating in the Veterans Relay at Elisabeta Palace on Thursday.

'Dear members of the Invictus family, another year has passed and we are beginning the autumn together, as usual, on the first day of an event that symbolically lasts almost a month, from the beginning of October, when students start their courses, until the 25th, when we celebrate Romanian Armed Forces Day and the birthday of King Mihai. I believe you have all seen that throughout all these years in which the Veterans Relay has taken place, you have increasingly become a symbol in ever greater contrast with what is happening in Romanian society. All of Europe is troubled and our society is searching for points of reference. We do not quite understand why these progressive and happy times, which we all believed in our generation to be our ideal of life, actually bring so much uncertainty. In this kind of everyday reality that saddens and frightens us, you come with exactly the opposite values. You offer an example of silence in the face of noise, discretion in the face of pride, respect for the homeland in the face of a complete lack of respect for any values and, generally speaking, you do everything to show that there is a beautiful side to our lives,' HRH Prince Radu said.

Prince Radu highlighted that both in Romania and in other countries of the European Union and NATO there is greater respect and 'a different understanding of the sacrifice that military personnel make for society.'


'Over these years you have noticed how much people respect you, you have noticed how Romania, like other countries in the European Union and NATO, has developed a different understanding of the sacrifice that military personnel make for society and, generally speaking, you have done a great deal of good for people, not only for your families and the communities you belong to, but for society as a whole, and you continue to do so. That is why Her Majesty and I are so happy to be alongside you and to thank you for including us in your family. We will be together again in November and next year at the other competitions you have,' Prince Radu said.

Laura, the daughter of Laurentiu Serban, who won the bronze medal in the 1,500-metre event at the 2017 Toronto Games, spoke on behalf of the Invictus military personnel.

'I attended the Invictus Games in 2017, where my father also won his first medal, and I want to tell you that I have seen almost the entire process of this community's growth. In 2017 there were relatively few faces and we all knew each other, whereas now I see a great many new faces and it seems to me that this community is doing everything it needs to grow and reach as many people as possible,' Laura said.

At her colleagues' prompting, she also spoke about her grandfather, who 'was wounded in 1943, during the Second World War, and was decorated by His Majesty King Mihai.'

The Veterans Relay, the largest education and volunteering project dedicated to preserving the memory of heroes and supporting military personnel wounded in military actions, missions and operations, began in Bucharest on Thursday. The event is being held for the 13th time this year.

Launched in 2014 by Invictus Romania volunteers, the Veterans Relay has become a national tradition which, year after year, brings together hundreds of volunteers - active and reserve military personnel, athletes, young people, teachers and entire families - around a symbolic mission: carrying the National Flag, by running or cycling, from the capital to Carei, where the liberation of the national territory was completed on 25 October 1944 during the Second World War.

The event will conclude on 25 October, Romanian Armed Forces Day, at the Romanian Soldier Monument in Carei, with a solemn tribute to the heroes who fought for our freedom.

As every year, the Invictus volunteers are supported by central and local authorities, including the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Military police units will accompany the participants along the entire route.

The Invictus Volunteers Association operates under the High Patronage of Prince Radu. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)

Photos: Petronius Craiu / AGERPRES

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