President to hand out over 60 state awards on Czechoslovak Independence Day

President Petr Pavel will be handing out state awards to over 60 people on Czechoslovak Independence Day, the head of the president's office, Jana Vohralíková, told journalists on Friday. October 28 is a public holiday in the Czech Republic marking the founding of Czechoslovakia in 1918. On this day, the president hands out high state distinctions to people for "outstanding services" to the Czech Republic. The president's office has not divulged the names of the recipients before the ceremony, but former foreign minister and one-time presidential candidate Karel Schwarzenberg told the Czech daily Právo that he will be receiving the highest award, the Order of the White Lion.

Due to the ceremony, the Old Royal Palace, the Story of Prague Castle exhibition and the Royal Garden, including the Jiří Štourač exhibition, will be closed all day on Saturday, while the Prague Castle grounds will be closed to the public from 3.00 pm, with last entry at 2.30 pm.