The Reading mayor has been rubbing shoulders with royalty on a visit to Germany to watch the Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry in 2014 for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans.
The games are held in two-year intervals across the world, and are attended by Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
This year, the games were held at the Merkur Speil-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Councillor Tony Page (Labour Abbey), the Mayor of Reading, was invited to view the games by the Mayor of Dusseldorf, one of the town’s twin settlements.
Reading Borough Council spent £288.84 on return flights to and from Dusseldorf for the Mayor and his consort.
Cllr Page announced he had visited the German city in an address at a full council meeting on Tuesday, October 17.
He said: “I just wanted to pass on the greetings from the city of Dusseldorf, which I had the pleasure of visiting last month during the Invictus Games which they hosted.
“The Oberbürgermeister Stephan Keller asked for his regards to be passed onto the council.
“I also had the pleasure of meeting Prince Harry during the event, and wished him luck in his forthcoming court case with Rupert Murdoch.”
Prince Harry has a lawsuit against The Sun newspaper for its reporting and alleged use of phone hacking.
The amount spent on the trip was revealed when the Local Democracy Reporting Service requested the cost from the council.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Mayor of Reading, Cllr Page, was invited by the Mayor of our twin town of Dusseldorf, Stephan Keller, to join them in their celebration of the Invictus Games in September.
“Cllr Page also attended a programme of official engagements representing Reading during his visit.
“The total cost of the flights for the Mayor and his consort was £288.84.
“Accommodation was provided by the city of Dusseldorf.
“Reading Council is proud of its links with Dusseldorf, forged by Phoebe Cusden 76 years ago when Berkshire residents generously donated food and other supplies to the people of Dusseldorf after World War Two.
“It is a highly valued friendship and it is important it is maintained with occasional visits.
“These visits are reciprocated when representatives from Dusseldorf travel to Reading, which we are always happy to host.”
