British humor and an attempt at Czech. Field, Pavel, and others celebrated the British King.

PRAGUE - The traditional birthday celebrations for King Charles III at the British Embassy in Prague were attended by congratulations from President Petr Pavel and a humorous attempt by Ambassador Matt Field to pronounce Czech correctly. The man who has grown to love Prague hosted one of the last major events before leaving the Czech Republic for his next posting.

King Charles III was born on November 14th. However, the official birthday celebrations, according to tradition, are held on the second Saturday of June. On this occasion, politicians and prominent figures gathered at the British Embassy in Prague. The host was the British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Matt Field, who is likely to end his service in the country at the end of the year. As he recently said, he is postponing the farewell for now. "It's a difficult prospect, and I'm trying not to focus on it." However, this event was one of his last, given its scale.

In the beginning of his speech, he humorously noted: "Unfortunately, the King could not make it today... again. He never attends his own birthday celebrations, but you are here, and that's what matters." He also mentioned the 80th anniversary of the British Council in Prague, which, according to him, plays an important role in promoting English and helping Czech students and teachers. The British Council is also contributing to the return of the United Kingdom to the Erasmus+ program. "We are also partners in supporting Ukraine in its defense of Europe. Our unity and determination are important because they send a clear signal to Russia. We are partners in business, science, and culture," he also said, addressing the Czech Republic.

Field has been serving at the British Embassy since 2023, and he jokingly apologized for his Czech. "After four years of learning Czech, I can only say: I apologize for my pronunciation," he joked. He also referred to a number of events this year, such as pop-up events in Pilsen and České Budějovice, and the flyover by the Red Arrows aerobatic team, which is expected to return next year as part of the NATO Days event. At the end, he thanked the President and the ministers. "Thank you for everything you do for Czech-British relations," he added.

A Humorous Remark from Pavel

In addition to Field, the Czech President, Petr Pavel, also spoke at the event. "It is again a great pleasure to be among you today and to have the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III," the President said in his speech, which was followed by a humorous remark about the Ambassador's personality. "Unfortunately, my English will never be as entertaining as Ambassador Field's Czech," he added with a smile.

Pavel expressed optimism, especially in the area of European-British relations, which, according to him, are becoming increasingly closer. "I think this reflects the developments in the world, where we face the same challenges and must focus on how to solve them together," he said. In his speech, he also gradually addressed the possible expansion of the European Union to include Iceland, Norway, or Canada, and mentioned topics such as energy and business, specifically the cooperation between Rolls-Royce SMR and ČEZ. At the end, the President recalled the 30th anniversary of the visit of the late Queen Elizabeth II to the Czech Republic.

"I would like to emphasize that we still remember this visit with great respect, and that members of the royal family will always be warmly welcomed here," he said. He also bid farewell to the British Ambassador, Matt Field, whose diplomatic mission is coming to an end. "Ambassador, Matt Field, this is likely your last reception celebrating the King's birthday here in the Czech Republic. I must say that you have been a true asset to the diplomatic corps," he praised his work, highlighting his energy, enthusiasm, and innovative approach.