Queen Marie of Romania Celebrated in Ashford

We were thrilled to celebrate The Queen Marie 150 Season together with the Romanian community in Kent and our British friends from Ashford, near Her Majesty’s birthplace at Eastwell and in the town that proudly hosts the only statue of Queen Marie in the UK.

The event, organised in partnership with Ashford Borough Council, honoured the life and legacy of Queen Marie, highlighting her remarkable contributions to history, diplomacy, and cultural heritage.

From the warm welcome offered by RO Kent Cic and the inspiring photo-documentary exhibition by the Muzeul National Peles / Peleș National Museum and Muzeul Național de Istorie a României / the National History Museum of Romania, to the moving speeches by Mayor Lyn Suddards, HE Laura Popescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the UK, and Aura Woodward, director of Romanian Cultural Institute in London, the evening was truly special.

A heartfelt moment came when Maria Olivia Arfir, a student of the “Ștefan cel Mare și Sfânt” Saturday School, read an emotional excerpt from the Queen’s journals. Historian Tessa Dunlop captivated the audience with a powerful talk on the Queen’s role in shaping modern Romania, followed by the screening of the documentary “Marie, Heart of Romania”.

We are deeply grateful to the Romanian community in Kent for turning the Ashford celebration into a true tribute to friendship between Romania and the United Kingdom!