The Prince of Wales compared British seaside towns Margate and Southend to party destination Ayia Napa as he celebrated the UK’s ties to Cyprus.
Charles hosted the nation’s president Nicos Anastasiades at Buckingham Palace on Monday evening, along with guests including artist Tracey Emin, who was raised in the Kent seaside resort.
The prince celebrated the waves of migration of Cypriots to Britain and their support of the Army during both world wars.
He added: “I’m told that some early British-Cypriot communities were established in Southend and Margate which – I can only imagine – were the closest thing they could find to Ayia Napa.”
After his remark was met with laughter, he said: “I’m glad you got the joke.”
Charles praised Britons of Cypriot descent including George Michael, Emin and the entrepreneurs Theo Paphitis and Touker Suleyman, who have both featured on Dragons’ Den.
