Duke Edward of Kent arrives in Murmansk

Duke Edward of Kent, the president of the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission, arrives in Murmansk (the Kola Peninsula) on Friday after a visit to Arkhangelsk (Russia's north), the press service of the regional administration said.

Prince Edward is due to meet Murmansk governor Yury Yevdokimov.

However, the aim of His Highness's visit is to see the graves of British servicemen. Edward of Kent and his retinues will lay flowers and wreaths at the New British Cemetery, where officers of Her Majesty's Navy, killed during the foreign intervention in Russia during the Civil War (1918-1920) were buried. In addition, he will attend the municipal cemetery. On Saturday, the Duke of Kent will head for Severomorsk (the Kola Peninsula) and attend graves of the British seamen, killed during World War II, who convoyed sea cargoes from the anti-Hitler coalition to the Soviet Union.

Duke Edward of Kent is a regular officer. He served in the British Army and resigned in 1976. He is a patron of several public and charitable organisations and the president of the British Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

More than 600 British soldiers and officers were buried in Russia - in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Severomorsk and Vladivostok (Russia's Far East). The Commission regularly visits the graves and allocates money for their keeping.