Prince Charles hails 'fortitude' at 200th anniversary of Greek independence

The Prince of Wales jokes about his Greek blood' and accepts medal of valour at celebrations in Athens

The sun came out, bursting through a cloudy sky, as Greeks celebrated the bicentenary of the revolt that would lead to independence, with parades, a military flypast and all the fanfare a global pandemic would permit on Thursday.

From the start, when cannon boomed in the 200th anniversary from Athens's Lycabettus hill, the day was rich with symbolism. It was on 25 March, 1821, that Greece declared independence from the Ottoman empire, launching a battle that would ultimately usher in the foundation of the modern Greek state. Today the nation celebrates," said the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as the flag was raised over the ancient Acropolis. Two centuries ago, a handful of determined fighters in and outside Greece raised the banner of independence ... with the help of their allies they fought heroically and won their freedom."