The Prince was actually more impressed with the teapot set of Polish pottery than a 100-years old saber given by Poland’s Head of State!

 

The visit took place on the 17th and 18th of July, and while I was well aware of it, I haven’t been paying attention to the gift exchange. However, when I found this interesting information today, I’ve decided to share a deeper insight with you. This article will cover not only the gifts exchange mentioned but will explain to you the details about the whole visit.

 

The visit that will “enhance the close relationship between our two countries”

 

The quote above comes from Richard Palmer, a member of the press corps at the British royal family. He also stated that the arrival of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is a part of a wider diplomatic mission carried out at the request of the government, which aims to “charm our European partners” and to “honor our bonds and remind them how good and reliable neighbors and partners we are” in the face of incoming Britain’s exit from the EU. The last part was, of course, stated only unofficially.

On the other hand, Krzysztof Szczerski, the head of the president’s cabinet, expressed that “this is a visit of friendship and respect because the princely couple visits Poland not with a political mission because it does not run current British politics. It is rather an expression of good Polish-British relations”.

Szczerski also stated that it was the next major media event in July after the successful visit of USA’s President Donald Trump, that will allow Poland to show itself to the world since it is well known that the interest in the visit of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is so enormous that the pictures from Poland will circle the whole world once again.

 

It is worth noting that this was the first visit of the princely couple outside the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, at the same time, the first in Central-Eastern Europe.

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge landed in Warsaw at about half-past 1, along with their children George and Charlotte. 30 minutes later, the princely family has reached the Presidential Palace, greeted by a crowd of Warsaw citizens on the way. After a short walk in the palace gardens, both couples entered inside, where the courtesy of gifts exchange began.

 

“Well, we are British, we love a cup of tea”

 

Both pairs expressed that they wanted their gifts to be as much associated with their countries as possible.

Poland’s First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda prepared a gift for the Duchess, which turned out to be a teapot set of Polish pottery from Bolesławiec. The set consisted of a teapot with lid and warmer, completed by 8 cups and saucers. Regrettably, Poland’s First Lady did not give any of the best teapots with infusers (loved in the UK) or ceramic tea coffee sugar sets neither hand-painted ceramic mugs set or handcrafted ceramic butter dish.  Though everything was carefully chosen and presented by the First Lady herself (with the help of a translator) – she explained that the pattern is one of the oldest preserved in that particular manufactory:

“Bolesławiec is a small town in Lower Silesia, where clay deposits have been discovered in the Middle Ages. The first potteries in Bolesławiec were opened in the 16th and 17th centuries. These ceramics are hand-painted and decorated, and this pattern is one of the oldest. We hope that Your Majesties will drink tea from this set one day, thinking about your visit in Poland”.

“Well, we are British, we love a cup of tea. That’s fantastic, thank you very much. This is beautiful”

 

“I’ll make sure George doesn’t get his hands on that”

 

On the other hand, President Andrzej Duda gave William a traditional, uhlan-type saber for the Duke, which President described as “a gift for the soldier and for the man”, and also told William that it was used during both World Wars – as a lancer sabre during the first, and against Germans And Russian during the second. Prince William later stated that he will “make sure George doesn’t get his hands on that”.

 

The Princely Pair’s gift for Presidential couple consisted of a book about palaces and castles of London, a picture of Duke and Duchess as thanks for hosting the Duke and the Duchess, and a porcelain tea set from George III – referring to his previous words, Prince William was joking that, as being British, they could not have chosen otherwise.

 

Considering that the uhlan sabre did not get such an enthusiastic comment from the Duke, I think that tea really has to be one of his major favorites.

 

This is the Bolesławiec teapot set of Polish pottery given by the Polish President and the First Lady:

 

 

And here is the whole video:

 

Treat yourself in a royal way!

 

The royal couple’s teapot set makes an impression, isn’t it? If you’d like to arrange a table worthy of a monarch in your own home, then our online store will allow you to compose your very own royal set – just take a look at our main categories, such as Teapots where you find handmade ceramic best teapots with infusers or without, ceramic coffee Cups and Saucers also Ceramic Coffee Mugs or dinner plates as well as ceramic serving dishes with lids or without lids and others, fill your basket, place an order and wait for the fanfares to come! If you are planning to buy polish pottery online such as colourful pasta bowls for your friend or family member who lives in the USA you may visit our online store affiliated with Amazon.com

 

 

Uprising Museum, start-ups and VRs

 

After the exchange, the princely couple took a walk at Krakowskie Przedmieście, where they talked with Varsovians. The next stop was the Museum of Warsaw Uprising, where they have met with both Polish and British World War II veterans and paid their respect for the uprising victims.

 

At 5 pm, William and Kate visited the Warsaw Spirea tower block where many technological centers and start-ups are located. The princely pair have spoken with many entrepreneurs, exchanging ideas and experiences.

 

The Queen’s letter

 

After about 2 hours break, at 8 pm, the princely pair attended the banquet, during which the Duke has made a speech, starting from reading the letter written by Queen Elisabeth and her husband, Duke Philip:

“In 1996, we were in Poland and we have only good memories, witnessing a warm welcome in both Warsaw and in Krakow. I am glad that the princely couple will be able to experience the same. In 1996, I spoke about the extraordinary depth of Polish-British relations that date back a thousand years. Therefore, I can say with great pleasure that friendship between our two nations, between our two countries, has been strengthening ever since. I have no doubt that it will develop in the years to come”.

 

The Prince’s speech

 

After reading the letter, Prince William added that “We are partners in NATO and, for the first time since World War II, British troops are stationed in Poland”. He also pointed out that Polish is currently the second most-heard language in Great Britain, and that the British and Polish cultures have been intertwining for hundreds of years:

“The acts of Shakespeare were performed in Poland, also in Polis language, very shortly after they were first staged in London. At the same time, merchants from Poland were carrying out their trade missions in Great Britain, thus paving the way for all those who travel to Great Britain these days”, William said.

He also referred to Polish history by saying that “Poland is an example of courage, determination, and resilience. You have survived centuries of attacks on your country, including the partitions that were aimed at erasing you from the map of Europe.

In the 20th century, Poland again showed exceptional courage by opposing the brutal Nazi occupation, not to mention the 1943 ghetto uprising and the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Catherine and I were very touched when we visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum today with the President and First Lady. This is a reminder of the suffering of the Polish nation, but also of the Holocaust.

But in 1989 – the climax of the magnificent national rebirth led by Solidarity movement – Poland threw off the communist shackles and again took the place of one of the leading European countries. It was a confirmation of Polish courage and character”, he expressed.

“Such diplomatic, military and cultural ties offer a lot of opportunities for the future and give us hope. Therefore, Catherin and I are very pleased with our first visit to Poland and we hope that we will be able to return here many times”, Prince William added.

 

He then thanked President and the First Lady for hospitality.

 

To be continued

 

All of these happened just on the first day of the visit. Stay tuned for the second, when the princely pair went to Gdańsk, visited the Shakespeare Theatre, and met with Lech Wałęsa.

 

All pictures and a video in this post are shared by the courtesy of the official site of the Polish president.