Ragazzi!
Prince Harry is headed to Italy on what will be his first official visit of the post-Cressida era.
Harry will meet a range of veterans from World War II and more recent conflicts as well as serving military personnel during a three-day official visit to Estonia and Italy which will run from 16th till 19th May 2014.
On 16th May, in Estonia, Prince Harry will lay a wreath at the monument to the War of Independence in Freedom Square (Vabaduse väljak) in Tallinn and meet Estonian Ministers and MPs as well as wounded veterans who will take part in the Invictus Games, which will take place in London from 10-14 September 2014.
The event, which was launched by Prince Harry in March this year will see more than 300 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, serving and veteran from the armed forces competing in various sporting events including Athletics, Archery, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming, Sitting Volleyball and a driving challenge.
In Italy, Prince Harry will attend a number of events commemorating the Allied Campaign in Italy during WWII, focussing on the 70th anniversary of the Battles of Monte Cassino. The four battles of Monte Cassino took place between January and May 1944 and involved some of the most brutal fighting of the Second World War between Allied and Axis forces. The battles involved allied troops from the UK, Poland, USA, France, New Zealand and a number of other Commonwealth countries.
Harry will visit the Abbey of Monte Cassino (the original sixth-century Benedictine Monastery was destroyed during the battles in 1944 and rebuilt a decade later) where he will meet wounded Italian veterans some of whom will be taking part in the Invictus Games.
Harry will be joined by Lord Astor, Under Secretary of State and the Lords Spokesman on Defence.