King Charles visits Transylvania post coronation

After being received with military honours at the Romanian capital Bucharest, Britain's Charles III on Saturday visits Transylvania -- a region the king has said is in his "blood" as a descendant of Vlad the Impaler.

The king has frequently praised the charms of picturesque Transylvania in central Romania, where he has bought several traditional houses and set up a heritage foundation.

A long-time environmental advocate with a passion for nature, Charles has called Transylvania "literally the last unspoilt, untouched area".


As part of his first overseas visit since he was crowned king on May 6, Charles is headed to the village of Valea Zalanului -- some 100 kilometres (60 miles) away from the hamlet of Viscri, where he is expected to wrap up his trip on Tuesday.

As prince, King Charles first visited Viscri a quarter of a century ago, in 1998.

Dan Spataru from the local mayor's office said his return to the region was being welcomed as an "emotional gesture".

But in contrast to earlier visits, his trip as a newly crowned king will take on a "more formal, official" nature amid heightened security. "We are sorry because the atmosphere was more relaxed before. Now it's a little stiffer," Spataru said of the tightened security protocol in place.

"Until 10 years ago Charles would walk around, go inside the villagers' courtyards, discover, without someone protecting him," said local guesthouse-owner Alexandru Toader. "Now he can no longer do that because every time he comes it is highly publicised," he added. The 37-year-old said in the past few weeks, authorities have even questioned him about the guests he was about to receive as part of security protocols.