King Philippe of Belgium was given a red carpet welcome and a military ceremony in Prague on Monday afternoon. The King is visiting the Czech Republic to take part in a ceremony commemorating the liberation of the city of Pilsen.
At around 14.50, the King was greeted by Czech president Petr Pavel and dozens of Czech soldiers at a formal reception at Prague Castle, a monumental palace complex that overlooks the centre of Prague from a hilltop. Prague Castle, which was closed to tourists for the occasion, is also the official residence and workplace of the Czech President.
The ceremony, which included the national anthems of both countries, was followed by talks between the two leaders. The King was also presented with a framed photograph of his meeting with Vaclav Havel, the country’s first president after the fall of the communist regime.
Liberation of Pilsen
King Philippe travelled to the Czech Republic to take part in a ceremony commemorating the liberation of the city of Pilsen. Tuesday marks exactly 80 years since a Belgian battalion helped drive Nazi troops out of the city. It is also the first time that a Belgian and a Czech head of state will attend the commemoration of this event together.
On 6 May 1945, the city was liberated by the American army with the assistance of the 17th Belgian Fusilier Battalion. This battalion consisted of volunteers from the province of Liège, all former members of the Secret Army resistance group.
US-led liberation
Pilsen is one of the few Czech cities not liberated by Soviet troops at the end of the Second World War. During the Cold War, the event received little attention. It was only after 1990, following the Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule in the former Czechoslovakia, that the liberation began to be celebrated.
The last Belgian veteran passed away in 2023, but family members of the 17th Battalion veterans are expected to attend the commemoration in Pilsen on Tuesday.
King Philippe’s visit partly coincides with a two-day visit by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to the Czech Republic. As a result, the Ukrainian flag at Prague Castle had to be replaced by the Belgian flag shortly before 14.00 on Monday.
