Jump to contentJump to menuJump to footer

Holy Crown and warship – Special program for the Slovenian Head of State’s husband

Text: László Szűcs | Photo: Sztaniszláv Horváth |  18:53 April 20, 2023

As is usual in diplomatic protocol, the hosts organize cultural programs for the spouses of heads of state and government arriving for official visits in Hungary. On Wednesday, 19 April the House of Parliament and a minesweeper of the Hungarian Defence Forces provided a venue for such a program, that was, however, special this time.

On Wednesday, 19 April President of the Republic of Slovenia Nataša Pirc Musar arrived in Hungary for an official visit. While the Slovenian Head of State was conducting negotiations with President of Hungary Katalin Novák, the hosts organized a program for her husband as well.

_HSZ2033

In answer to our question, Major General Dr. István Kun Szabó, Director, Defence Directorate of the Office of the President of the Republic of Hungary told us that it is usual in diplomatic protocol that the hosts organize programs for the spouses of heads of state and government arriving for official visit in Hungary. He added that at the same time, it happened for the first time that they had to organize the spouse’s program for men. For this reason, they tried to combine such program elements that may be of interest to the husband of the Slovenian Head of State. We were also told that this time, the Hungarian Defence Forces, too, had a role to play in the management of this special spouse’s program.

_HSZ2141

On Wednesday morning, Aleš Musar, the husband of the President of the Republic of Slovenia arrived in front of the House of Parliament in the company of István Veres, the Hungarian Head of State’s husband. The guest visited the Upper House Chamber of the Parliament, and then the Holy Crown – which is on display in the Dome Hall, where it is guarded by the soldiers of the HDF Crown Guard, a subordinate unit of the HDF “vitéz Szurmay Sándor” Budapest Garrison Brigade – and the panorama of Buda side from the balcony of the Hunter’s Hall. The English-speaking tour guide introduced him to the history of the symbols of Hungarian statehood and the past of the building of legislation.

_HSZ2292

The program continued with a cruise on the River Danube. The high-ranking Slovenian guest went on a sightseeing tour of the capital city aboard the AM-31 “Dunaújváros” minesweeper of the HDF 1st EOD and Riverine Guard Regiment, where he was naturally introduced to the warship itself as well.

_HSZ2304