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King Charles Arrives in Germany for First State Visit as Monarch

Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, visited the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to start their three-day trip.

By Christopher F. Schuetze and Jenny Gross

BERLIN — Making his first official overseas trip as Britain’s new monarch, King Charles III began a three-day state visit to Germany on Wednesday, with Camilla, the queen consort, greeting a crowd of hundreds of spectators at the landmark Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

The visit is meant to promote Britain’s ties with Germany and to celebrate the shared values between Britain and the rest of Europe, after a tumultuous few years over Brexit . This month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited President Emmanuel Macron of France , announcing plans to deepen cooperation on topics including the development of a new generation of long-range missiles that could be used to deter aggressors like Russia.

The British ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard, told Deutschlandfunk , a public broadcaster, that the timing of the king’s visit, which is just over a month before his coronation, was significant.

“Even though the king is above daily politics, this visit was a recommendation of the British government,” Ms. Gallard said, adding, “It’s no coincidence that this first visit is to Europe.”

Hundreds of people lined the famous Unter den Linden, a boulevard in central Berlin, to pass through metal detectors to welcome the royal couple at the Brandenburg Gate, the 18th-century monument that became a symbol of German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Charles was the first head of state to be welcomed with full military honors at the gate since at least the founding of the German republic in 1949, according to the office of Germany’s president.

The crowd included Britons living abroad who wanted a taste of home, German fans of the royal family and others who were there to see the spectacle of the British king in their city.

Hayley Gibson, 41, a Briton who has lived in Germany for four years, said she had felt alone in her grief after Queen Elizabeth II died last year. Holding a bouquet of flowers and miniature German and British flags, Ms. Gibson said this would be her first time seeing Charles up close. “Now I get to witness this new chapter,” she said.

A German woman in the crowd, Andrea Oliver, 53, said she had been a fan of Charles ever since she watched his wedding to Princess Diana on TV as a girl. “There’s something about the atmosphere that is magical,” she said of the feeling in Berlin ahead of the royal couple’s arrival.

On arrival, Charles and Camilla received a 21-gun salute at the airport, followed by a ceremonial welcome at the Brandenburg Gate, which is close to Hotel Adlon, where the royal couple will stay.

On Wednesday night, Charles and Camilla will be the guests of honor at a state banquet, hosted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, at Bellevue Palace, the official residence of the German president.

Charles had originally been scheduled to begin his overseas trip in France, making stops in Paris, Versailles and Bordeaux , but that leg was called off because of strikes and heated protests over Mr. Macron’s plan to raise the country’s pension age.

Buckingham Palace said the visit celebrated Britain’s relationship with both France and Germany, including their joint work on climate change and their response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Charles and Camilla last visited Germany in 2020, during the throes of the pandemic, when he addressed the German parliament, the Bundestag, when he was still prince, and began his speech in German . On Thursday, Charles will again address the Bundestag, before meeting with refugees from Ukraine. On Friday, the royal couple will travel to Hamburg, where they will visit a monument commemorating Kindertransport, the effort from 1938 to 1940 that brought about 10,000 Jewish children to safety in Britain from Nazi Germany.

Daniel Taylor-Fowles, 27, a Briton living in Berlin, who on Wednesday was part of the crowd waiting for the couple’s arrival, said he had become a monarchist since moving abroad.

“Charles is the biggest and best diplomat that the British have,” Mr. Taylor-Fowles said. “It’s important to strengthen the friendship with the E.U. and Germany.”

Christopher F. Schuetze reported from Berlin, and Jenny Gross from London.

Christopher F. Schuetze covers German news, society and occasionally arts from the Berlin bureau. Before moving to Germany, he lived in the Netherlands, where he covered everything from tulips to sea-level rise. More about Christopher F. Schuetze

Jenny Gross is a general assignment reporter. Before joining The Times, she covered British politics for The Wall Street Journal. More about Jenny Gross

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Charles wins hearts in Germany as soft power pays off

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III waves from a balcony of the city hall in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Gregor Fischer, File)

FILE - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and his wife Elke Buedenbender, left, welcome Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier greet members of the public in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Wolfgang Rattay/Pool via AP, File)

FILE - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, his wife Elke Buedenbender, left, Britain’s King Charles III, 2nd right, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, stand in front of the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and Britain’s King Charles III wave to well-wishers during a welcome ceremony in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Tuesday, March 29, 2022. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, with Camilla, the Queen Consort board a train on their way to Hamburg from a train station in Berlin, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, Pool, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III stands in front of the plane after arriving at Berlin Airport in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III speaks in the German parliament Bundestag on the second day of his trip to Germany in Berlin, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Wolfgang Kumm/dpa via AP, File)

FILE - German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s wife Elke Buedenbender, left, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, talk in front of the Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, right, looks at a cake made especially for his visit in the Brodowin eco-village Germany, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Jens Buettner/DPA via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, center, addresses the Bundestag, Germany’s Parliament, in Berlin, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Camilla, Queen Consort and Germany’s first lady Elke Buedenbender react as they talk with a Komische Oper Berlin performer, next to Managing Director Susanne Moser, during a tour of the opera house in Berlin, Germany, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Christian Mang/Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - A person raises the Union Jack flag in front of the Brandenburg Gate at the eve of the visit of King Charles III at the German capital, in Berlin, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, 2nd right, talks with soldiers during his visit at the 130th German-British Pioneer Bridge Battalion military unit in Finowfurt, eastern Germany, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Jens Schlueter /Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, center left, waves as he receives a standing ovation after his speech in the German Bundestag in Berlin, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)

FILE - Berlin’s Mayor Franziska Giffey, Britain’s King Charles and Camilla the Queen Consort visit a farmer’s market on Wittenbergplatz square, in Berlin, Germany, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Annegret Hilse//Pool Photo via AP, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, right, reacts beside German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier after the planted a tree in the garden of the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin, on March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Jens Schlueter/Pool via AP, File)

FILE - King Charles III of Great Britain, right, leaves the Brodowin ecovillage in the rain, Germany, Thursday, March 30, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Jens Buettner/DPA via AP, Pool, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, center, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier lay a wreath of flowers at St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III, left, and Camilla, the Queen Consort drive in a car after they arrived at the airport in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany, his first foreign trip since becoming king following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP, File)

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BERLIN (AP) — King Charles III won plenty of hearts during his three-day visit to Germany , his first foreign trip since ascending to the throne following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, last year.

Charles’ tour saw a number of firsts that show the importance both countries placed on it — at a time when London and Berlin are trying to rebuild relations frayed by Britain’s departure from the European Union.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took the unprecedented step of welcoming Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, at the Brandenburg Gate with military honors Wednesday. A day later, Charles became the first monarch to address the Bundestag , the German parliament, stressing the long-standing close ties between both countries and the importance of future cooperation.

Observers in both Germany and the U.K. said the trip sent a strong signal about the enduring strength of British-German relations.

Jens Zimmermann, a lawmaker from Germany’s center-left Social Democrats, said Charles sent a “clear message” by speaking to parliament partially in German.

“The speech in the Bundestag was very well-received,” Zimmermann told The Associated Press. “It was much more political than you might have expected. It was very connecting — I think that was very good.”

In the speech, Charles emphasized that London and Berlin have provided considerable aid to Ukraine in its efforts to fend off Russia’s invasion — praise that will have been gratifying to a German government more used to claims it’s not doing enough to help Kyiv. Zimmermann said Charles thanking Germans for taking in so many Ukrainians seeking shelter from the war might also be seen as a roundabout criticism of the British government’s recent anti-refugee policies.

Although King Charles cannot pass legislation or directly impact British policy, the “soft power” of his visit should not be underestimated, Zimmermann said.

Others said that after the pandemic’s long-distance diplomacy, in-person visits like Charles’ can help deepen and renew relationships between leaders.

“I think as coronavirus has faded, we’ve been reminded of the value of face-to-face meetings,” said Bronwen Maddox, chief executive of the Chatham House think tank.

“And it just does add something to relationships, particularly between heads of state, who are very insulated,” she said. “I think it has been received very well.”

Charles originally planned to visit France first , but anti-government protests there led both governments to postpone that part of his trip. The new itinerary put the focus on Germany, where Charles has family roots and the royals have long been the subject of keen interest.

That fascination was on display among the German public at Charles’ appearances. Despite the wet and cold spring weather, well-wishers waited patiently to greet Charles and Camilla at their stops in Berlin and Hamburg, a city that sees itself as having a particularly close connection to Britain due to its long seafaring and trading ties.

Charles and Camilla also laid a wreath at the remains of St. Nikolai church to commemorate the more than 30,000 people, mostly German civilians, who were killed in Operation Gomorrah, the Allied bombing of Hamburg in July 1943. A boat trip and a farewell reception involving musical performances, including by a Beatles cover band and a sea shanty group, rounded off the king’s visit on Friday.

Michael Kruse, a lawmaker with the pro-business Free Democrats who like Zimmermann is a member of the German-British parliamentary group, said the two countries continue to have many common economic interests despite Britain’s divorce from the EU.

“The channel has widened due to Brexit ,” he said. “That’s why the visit by Britain’s head of state was all the more important.”

Kruse voiced a hope shared by many in Germany, that London will find its way back into the 27-nation bloc.

“My hope is still that the British will someday recognize Brexit was a mistake and return to the EU,” he said. “The door should always be open for this. Until then, we say: see you again, King Charles III.”

Danica Kirka in London contributed.

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King Charles III visits Germany on first foreign trip as Britain's monarch

March 29, 2023 / 12:21 PM EDT / AP

Berlin — King Charles III arrived in Berlin on Wednesday for his first foreign trip as Britain's monarch, hoping to improve the U.K.'s relations with the European Union and show he can win hearts and minds abroad, just as his mother did for seven decades. Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, landed at Berlin's government airport in the early afternoon. The king, dressed in a black coat, and his wife, in a light blue coat and a feather-trimmed teal hat worn at a jaunty angle, paused at the top of their plane's stairs to receive a 21-gun salute as two military jets performed a flyover.

The royal couple said in a joint statement, released on their official Twitter account, that it was a "great joy" to be able to develop the "longstanding friendship between our two nations."

An hour later, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Buedenbender, welcomed them with military honors at the German capital's historic Brandenburg Gate.

Soldiers hoisted the British and German flags as the national anthems were played. Steinmeier and Charles then strolled past the cheering, flag-waving crowd, shaking hands and chatting briefly with people.

Some took close-up pictures on their phones as Charles and Camilla approached, while others gave them flower bouquets. One woman handed Charles a gift bag. Journalists and security personnel trailed the royal couple and their German hosts as they made their way back to their motorcade.

Charles, 74, who ascended the throne after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September, is set to be crowned on May 6 . As Britain's formal head of state, the king meets weekly with the prime minister and retains his mother's role as leader of the Commonwealth.

He had initially planned to visit France before heading to Germany, but the first leg of his trip was canceled due to massive protests over the French government's efforts to raise the country's retirement age by two years.

Billed as a multi-day tour of the European Union's two biggest countries, the trip was designed to underscore British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's efforts to rebuild relations with the bloc after six years of arguments over Brexit and highlight the countries' shared history as they work together to combat Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Now everything rests on Germany, where the king faces the first big test of his ability to channel the "soft power" the House of Windsor has traditionally wielded, helping Britain pursue its geopolitical goals through the glitz and glamour of a 1,000-year-old monarchy.

Charles, a former naval officer who is the first British monarch to earn a university degree, is expected to insert heft where his glamorous mother once wielded star power. His visit to Germany will give him an opportunity to highlight the causes he holds dear, like environmental protection.

During an afternoon reception at Palace Bellevue, the German president's official residence, Steinmeier lauded Charles for his long-time commitment to creating a more sustainable world.

"You are, quite literally, the driving forces behind the energy transition," Steinmeier said. "You are helping to make the world a better place."

Charles met with German government ministers, experts and advocacy group representatives during the reception. A white tie dinner at the presidential palace is scheduled for Wednesday night.

On Thursday, the king is scheduled to give a speech to the Bundestag, Germany's parliament. He will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, talk to Ukrainian refugees, and meet with British and Germany military personnel who are working together on joint projects. In the afternoon he will visit an organic farm outside of Berlin.

The royal couple plan to go to Hamburg on Friday, where they will visit the Kindertransport memorial for Jewish children who fled from Germany to Britain during the Third Reich, and attend a green energy event before returning to the U.K.

The king was urged to make the trip by Sunak, who during his first six months in office negotiated a settlement to the long-running dispute over post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland and reached a deal with France to combat the people smugglers ferrying migrants across the English Channel in small boats. Sunak hopes goodwill created by a royal visit can help pave the way for progress on other issues, including Britain's return to an EU program that funds scientific research across Europe.

Britain's senior royals are among the most recognizable people on the planet. While their formal powers are strictly limited by law and tradition, they draw attention from the media and the public partly because of the historic ceremonies and regalia that accompany them - and also because the public is fascinated by their personal lives.

Elizabeth's influence stemmed in part from the fact that she made more than 100 state visits during her 70 years on the throne, meeting presidents and prime ministers around the world in a reign that lasted from the Cold War to the information age.

Politicians were eager to meet the monarch for tea, if for no other reason than she'd been around so long.

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State visit to Germany: Queen Consort wears Queen Victoria’s poignant wedding day brooch to end historic trip

By Stephanie Bridger-Linning

State visit to Germany: The Queen Consort wears Queen Victoria's brooch in Hamburg

King Charles III and the Queen Consort have bid farewell to Germany, bringing to an end the first state visit of their reign. Following a busy two days in Berlin, the royal couple arrived in Hamburg on Friday where they carried out a whirlwind schedule of engagements. 

Camilla, the Queen Consort wore the spectacular Greville Tiara for the state banquet at Bellevue Palace

It started with a poignant moment of reflection at the Kindertransport Memorial. To mark the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransporte, the King and Queen Consort heard from the British Honorary Consul, a second-generation survivor, and the Chair of the Kindertransporte Organisation Germany, about the remarkable UK-led rescue mission in 1938 to save 10,000 children by granting them entry to the UK. Later, the couple visited the St. Nikolai Memorial, the remains of a church which was destroyed when the Allies bombed the city during the Second World War. His Majesty and the President laid wreaths during a short ceremony of remembrance. 

The King and Queen Consort at the farewell reception in Hamburg

By Clara Strunck

By Lucinda Gosling

The King and Queen Consort were given a formal welcome by the Mayor of Hamburg. The King learned more about the port of Hamburg’s adoption of green technologies, while Camilla visited a local elementary school. The day ended with a celebratory reception with Hamburg residents and members of the local British community, accompanied by the President and Frau Büdenbender, marking the close of their state visit. 

This week in 1959, Princess Dorothea of Hesse was married to Prince Friedrich of Windisch-Graetz in a German royal wedding

By Natasha Leake

The Queen Consort was typically polished in a navy blue outfit by Anna Valentine but all eyes were on her dramatic choice of brooch: a sapphire and diamond creation that was a wedding gift from Prince Albert to his bride, Queen Victoria. Albert was known for his creative flair and delighted in commissioning jewels for his bride to wear. On this occasion, the brooch was crafted by Garrard. It was so loved by Queen Victoria that she chose to wear it on her wedding day – and regularly donned the accessory in the years that followed. It was often worn by Queen Elizabeth II on daytime engagements, The Court Jeweller notes.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort at the Bundestag on Thursday

The state visit to Germany was designed to emphasise and strengthen the bond between the UK and her European neighbour in the post-Brexit era. The honour of hosting the King and Queen’s first state visit of their reign had been due to fall to France, but this portion of the itinerary was delayed due to the ongoing anti-pension reform protests gripping the country. 

South African businessman Michael Lewis, who wed Lady Kitty Spencer in 2021, can be seen in the background of Lady Eliza’s photo

The three-day trip started on Wednesday afternoon. Stepping off the plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the Queen Consort looked elegant in a blue coat designed by Bruce Oldfield (who has made her coronation dress), which she paired with a hat by trusted royal milliner Philip Treacy. The King and Queen were honoured with a 21-gun salute and military fly-past before being given a ceremonial welcome by President Steinmeier and Frau Büdenbender at the Brandenburg Gate. 

The foursome posed for photographs and were treated to renditions of both the German and British national anthems before King Charles and President Steinmeier inspected the troops. 

The Queen Consort on a visit to a market on Thursday

The King and Queen Consort on the visit on Thursday morning

The next stop was Schloss Bellevue where Charles and Camilla were once again greeted by President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender. Their Majesties signed the Golden Book and the president delivered an address hailing the start of a ‘new chapter’. ‘Today, on the day six years ago when Britain began its exit from the European Union, we are opening a new chapter in our relations,’ the German president said, according to BBC News . King Charles joined the president in planting a tree and attended a sustainability reception at the official residence. 

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By Catherine Ostler

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes King Charles III at the Chancellery

The day ended on a glittering note with a state banquet at Bellevue Palace. Elegantly attired in an embroidered black dress by favourite designer Bruce Oldfield, Camilla complemented the garment’s intricate, foliage-inspired silver thread-work with show-stopping diamonds. In a nod to her late mother-in-law, the Queen Consort opted for the City of London Fringe Necklace, which was gifted to the then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding in 1947. The Queen Consort also added a pair of diamond earrings and wore the Garter Star, the Grand Cross (Special Class) of the Federal Order of Merit (given to her today by the German president), and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Painted in oils by artist Alastair Barford, the portrait is the first of King Charles since the start of his reign

King Charles and the Queen Consort

King Charles at the state banquet

The crowning moment of the look was the diamond diadem, which once belonged to King Charles’s beloved grandmother the   Queen Mother, who died 21 years ago today . The Greville Tiara , also known as the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara, was made by the royal-approved jeweller for Dame Margaret Greville, an early 20th century society swan and philanthropist who was a close friend of Queen Mary, wife of King George V . King Charles delivered a speech which echoed the sentiments of today’s address.

Tuesday started with a meeting between the King and Chancellor Scholz at the Federal Chancellery building. He and Camilla then visited Wittenbergplaztz Food Market where they met local officials and business owners and learned about the history of the market.

First Lady Elke Büdenbender, the Queen Consort, King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Brandenburg Gate 

The King became the first member of the Royal Family to address the Bundestag. He delivered a speech in which he celebrated the deep historical bonds and longstanding links between Germany and the UK. ‘Today, it gives me particular pride to be with you once again, now as King, and to renew the special bond between our two countries,’ he said. ‘This friendship meant so much to my beloved Mother, the late Queen, who often spoke of the 15 official visits she made to Germany, including her five state visits.

By Chandler Tregaskes

‘The first of those, in 1965, came when our continent was still deeply scarred by war, and the trauma of conflict. Hers was the wartime generation, and like my father, the Queen had served in uniform. That my parents’ 11-day tour of Germany should prove to be a pivotal moment in the reconciliation between our nations was, therefore, a matter of great personal significance to them both.

‘I can hardly begin to express the pride I feel in the strength of the partnership between our two countries. Germany, her people and distinctive culture have made such a profound impact on me over so many of my previous visits.  Since I first came to Germany when I was just 13 years old, I have grown to become familiar with the different corners of this remarkable land.’ 

The Queen Consort looked elegant in a blue coat designed by Bruce Oldfield

Following the visit to the German Bundestag, the whirlwind schedule continued with a visit by the King to Tegel Refugee Centre where he was shown around by organisations that are supporting vulnerable refugees. Meanwhile, the Queen Consort learned about the work of Refugio House community centre – a meeting place for locals and new Berlin residents, including refugees. Later, the King visited a Joint Military Unit at Finowfurt before ending the day with an outing to Brodowin Farm, a flagship organic farm. 

The state visit to Germany marks the King’s 29th official visit to the country. Her Majesty has undertaken three official visits to Germany. Their Majesties last visited Berlin in 2020.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort arrive in Germany

By Isaac Zamet

By Rebecca Cope

By Isaac Bickerstaff

The Royal Watcher

British royal visits to germany.

As King Charles and Queen Camilla begin their State Visit to Germany today , we are featuring an over view of all the previous British Royal Visits to Germany over the past six decades celebrating the Anglo-German Alliance since the end of the Second World War.  

Click HERE to see the article on the ongoing State Visit to Germany !

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Royal Watcher (@the_royal_watcher)

Click HERE to see the article on the ongoing State Visit to Germany

There have been numerous British Royal Visits to Germany over the centuries, especially when they were also the rulers of the Kingdom of Hannover and when many of Queen Victoria’s children and grandchildren were married into German Royal Families, but our focus is on the State and Official Visits to the Republic of Germany since the end of the Second World War.

The  Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s State Visit to Germany in 1965 was the first British State Visit to Germany since the First World War, and included visits to Bonn, Königswinter, Koblenz, Kaub, Wiesbaden, Munich, Stuttgart, Marbach, Schwäbisch Hall, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Soest, Gütersloh, Hanover, Hamburg. The highlight of the visit included a State Banquet in honour of the Queen (in her Vladimir Tiara ) at Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl, another Banquet attended by the Queen (wearing her Belgian Sapphire Tiara and Belgian Sapphire Tiara ), and a Gala Performance attended by the Queen (in Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara ) and Duke at the National Theatre in Munich.

During that visit, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited several of his relatives; Princess Margarita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg at Schloss Langenburg, Princess Theodora, Margravine of Baden at Schloss Salem, and the Prince and Princess of Hesse and by Rhine at Schloss Wolfsgarten.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s next State Visit to West Germany was in 1978, and included visits to Bonn, Mainz, Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Kiel. There was a State Banquet in honour of the Queen (in the Vladimir Tiara ) at Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl, a Return Banquet hosted by the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ) in honour of President Walter Scheel aboard the Royal Yacht ‘Britannia’. The Queen (in her Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ) also attended a Banquet in Mainz as well as another Banquet in Kiel (for which the Queen wore the Vladimir Tiara ).

In 1987, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh made another State Visit to Germany, which included a State Banquet in honour of the Queen (in her Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ) at Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl.

The then  Prince and Princess of Wales visited Germany later that year in 1987 , going to Berlin, Bonn, Hamburg, Munich, Celle, and Cologne. There was an Official Dinner in honour of the Prince and Princess (in the Spencer Tiara and the Oman Sapphire Suite ) in Boon, a concert at the Munich Opera House, a Gala Dinner in Hamburg, and an Official Dinner in Munich (with the Princess in the Spencer Tiara  and her Aquamarine Earrings ) on the final evening.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s State Visit to Germany in 1992 was the first after German Reunification, with visits to Bonn, Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden. The State Banquet in honour of the Queen (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara ) was held at Schloss Augustusburg, while the Queen (in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara ) attended another Banquet at Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin as well as a Gala Military Tattoo.

The Queen’s next visit to Germany was in 2004, with visits to Berlin, Potsdam and Düsseldorf, as well as a State Banquet at the Zeughaus Palace, for which the Queen wore the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara .

The Queen’s State Visit to Germany in 2015 was the last outgoing State Visit of her Reign, and included visits to Berlin, Frankfurt, and Celle, with the highlight being the State Banquet in honour of the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the Crown Ruby Parure ) at Schloss Bellevue.

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The then  Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Germany in 2017 , going to Berlin, Heidelberg and Hamburg with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  

King Charles and Queen Camilla visited Germany in in 2009, and more recently, as the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, went on an official visit in 2019 . In 2020, they went to Berlin to commemorate the annual National Day of Mourning .

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Macron Visit to Germany in May to Focus on EU Ties

FILE PHOTO: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron before their trilateral meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk for the consultation forum 'Weimar Triangle', at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany March 15, 2024. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo

By Andreas Rinke

BERLIN (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Germany in May and will spend more days than planned with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, government sources said, in a sign of their ambition to bring more unity to EU relations.

Macron's previously announced state visit from May 26-28, might be followed by another trip to Germany in June, the sources told Reuters on Saturday.

This could signal that Franco-German relations remain strong, despite reports of deep disagreement between the two leaders.

Althoguh both leaders show support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, his approaches on how to help the country differ, with Germany being more cautious about weapon deliveries or sending troops.

At an EU summit last week, Macron and Scholz said they want to jointly implement an EU capital markets union and reduce bureaucracy in the single market.

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The sources said that a new Franco-German ministerial meeting was planned in Meseberg, north of Berlin, at the end of May, making Macron stay longer than previously planned.

Macron is under pressure domestically because his party does not have a majority in the National Assembly and polls suggest that Eurosceptic far-right and far-left parties could perform strongly in the EU elections in early June.

Both Macron and Scholz therefore want to emphasize a clearly pro-European course.

The French president will be received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and will give a speech on Europe in Dresden.

In Muenster, he will also receive the city's Peace Prize on May 28.

Macron had originally planned the state visit for July 2023 but had to cancel it at short notice due to riots in French cities.

A meeting within the framework of the so-called Weimar Triangle, consisting of France, Germany and Poland, is being considered for June, coinciding with a UEFA Euro 2024 football match in Dortmund on June 25 between France and Poland, the sources said.

(Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Maria Martinez, editing by Clelia Oziel)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Prince Harry's visit to the UK coincides with the royal family's big party - details

The king's garden party takes place on 8 may.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to arrive in the UK on Wednesday, which coincides with a big royal event. 

Although it is yet to be confirmed who will attend, Buckingham Palace is set to play host to The King's Garden Party - the first of the season. 

It was confirmed at the start of the week, Prince Harry will be returning to London for a Thanksgiving service held on 8 May at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games which he founded in 2014. 

More on Prince Harry

In a post shared by the Invictus Games' official Instagram account, a statement read: "The Invictus Games Foundation will celebrate 10 years of changing lives and saving lives with a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8th." 

The message continued: "We will be joined by our Patron, Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, actor Damian Lewis and members of the worldwide Invictus Community to mark the occasion." 

The upcoming visit will mark the first time Harry has travelled to the UK since flying over to see his father King Charles following his cancer diagnosis in February. 

The trip was less than 24 hours after Buckingham Palace made the announcement about the King's health . 

The father-of-two, 39, was then pictured arriving at Clarence House in London where he met with his father for around 45 minutes before the King left by helicopter for Sandringham. 

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The short reunion was the first meaningful time father and son had spent together since the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. 

Although Harry attended his father's coronation last May, the two are thought to have only had limited contact since then amid the fallout around the Duke's eye-opening memoir Spare . It is not known whether the Duke's wife, Meghan Markle , and their two children, Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, will join him in the UK. 

The Duchess last visited her husband's home country in September 2022 when they attended the One Young World summit in Manchester. She had been due to appear at the WellChild Awards but had to miss the event following the death of Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. 

Prince Harry and Meghan's visit to the UK was extended in order for them to attend Her Late Majesty's state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London. 

On the latest episode of HELLO! 's A Right Royal Podcast, The Telegraph's Royal Editor Hannah Furness reveals why Meghan is unlikely to return to the UK anytime soon. 

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Reporting by Andreas Rinke, writing by Maria Martinez, editing by Clelia Oziel

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Duchess of Edinburgh Becomes First British Royal to Visit Ukraine Since Russia’s Invasion

S ophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, became the first member of the British royal family to visit Ukraine since Russia launched its full scale invasion of the country in February 2022. Sophie is the wife of Prince Edward , the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II , and brother of King Charles III .

The Duchess met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska during the Monday visit. She toured Bucha to “demonstrate solidarity with the women, men, and children impacted by the war.”

While there, she laid down flowers at a memorial site in Bucha commemorating the over 400 people killed during the Russian occupation. Ukrainian authorities in April 2022 accused departing Russian forces of committing war crimes in a scene reminiscent of “a horror movie.” Zelenska also met with survivors of sexual violence and torture.

Read More: A Visit to the Crime Scene Russian Troops Left Behind at a Summer Camp in Bucha

Sophie has been focused on championing the rights of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence for several years, announcing her commitment to the U.K.’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative in 2019. “Women and girls pay the highest price in terms of human costs,” she said on Monday at an evening reception at the residence of the U.K.’s ambassador to Ukraine, per the BBC . “Rape is used to demean, to degrade, and to destroy.”

The royal family, which is usually careful about staying neutral on most matters of politics, has been unusually outspoken about its support for Ukraine. 

King Charles referred to Russia’s invasion as a “unprovoked attack” in a statement marking the second anniversary of the invasion this past February. “I continue to be greatly encouraged that the United Kingdom and our allies remain at the forefront of international efforts to support Ukraine at this time of such great suffering and need,” he said.

Read More: King Charles III Sends Message to Ukraine on Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion

In March 2023, the Prince of Wales visited Poland on a “personal mission” and praised British troops working near the Ukraine border. 

And in February, the Queen welcomed First Lady Zelenska to Clarence House where they discussed how the U.K. can best support Ukraine. 

The U.K. has pledged nearly £5 billion in non-military aid to Ukraine since the war broke out, including over £660 million of bilateral assistance that prioritizes women and girls.

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