László Kövér, Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament paid a visit to London on 25 May where he attended events of the Becket Week and met with British counterparts.
On its one-week tour in the United Kingdom, the relic of St Thomas Becket was welcomed at Westminster Abbey on 24 May. The Solemn Evensong on this occasion was attended by His Excellency János Áder, President of the Republic of Hungary, and Ms Anita Herczegh, the First Lady of Hungary.
During his visit to the United Kingdom connected to the Becket Week, President János Áder met Prime Minister David Cameron at 10 Downing Street on 24 May. The two leaders touched upon the upcoming EU referendum in the UK and exchanged views about climate change and global water issues.
The relic of St Thomas Becket arrived from Esztergom, Hungary, for a week-long journey to the United Kingdom and was welcomed at a Holy Mass at Westminster Cathedral on 23 May, celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Primate of Hungary, and His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, in the presence of His Excellency János Áder, President of the Republic of Hungary, and Ms Anita Herczegh, the First Lady of Hungary.
On the first day of his London visit, President János Áder met Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza in the House of Lords and the Rt Hon the Lord Mayor Alderman the Lord Mountevans at the Mansion House.
In a joint initiative with the Church of England and the Catholic Church of England and Wales, the Embassy of Hungary will bring the relic of Saint Thomas Becket, having been kept in Esztergom/Hungary for centuries, to the United Kingdom. The set of events called ‘Becket Week’ will take place between 23 and 29 May.
The Hungarian Science Club has been founded by the Hungarian Embassy in London on 28 January 2016. The event was addressed by Gergely Prőhle, deputy state secretary. At the academic symposium Hungarian scientists presented their work, followed by music from singer and songwriter Veronika Harcsa. The participants also commemorated Ignac Semmelweis on the occasion of the Semmelweis Year.