King Charles says Britain and Germany are united in bolstering Europe against threat of Putin
King Charles said Britain and Germany were united in supporting Ukraine and that the two countries were ready to “support Europe against the threat of further aggression from Russia”.
Addressing German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier during a state banquet, the King said the two countries had a “deep friendship” based on trade, defense and “acknowledgment of past sufferings”.
Charles spoke of the “darkest times” of the Second World War and Mr Steinmeier said ties between the countries had been “weakened by Brexit” – but both spoke of strengthening relations with a new partnership agreement signed in July.
But given ongoing efforts to stop the war under Donald Trump’s peace deal and Vladimir Putin’s threat of war against Europe, Charles’ reference to the war in Ukraine seemed most poignant.
Hours before the banquet, Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman described Putin’s comments as “Kremlin nonsense”.
King Charles told the event at Windsor Castle that Britain and Germany had “literally built bridges” at the joint battalion in Minden, describing it as “a unique partnership at the heart of NATO”.
“And more broadly, of course, the UK and Germany together stand with Ukraine and support Europe against the threat of further aggression from Russia,” he said.
Mr Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were guests of honor at the dinner held on the occasion of their three-day official visit, while German supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her film producer husband Sir Matthew Vaughn were also among those present.
Other famous names with German heritage or connections include film score composer Hans Zimmer, Strictly Judge Motsi Mabuse, who lives in Germany, and Axel Scheffler, illustrator of the popular children’s book The Gruffalo.
King Charles also used his speech to touch on the painful shared history between Britain and Germany, saying it gave leaders a “responsibility” to talk about the countries’ shared values.
“36 years have passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall, a very important event in human history,” he said. “The turbulent period of political, social and technological change that followed tested our values. Many found this disturbing and even scary. It can lead to fear, anger and resentment.
But the UK and Germany are united in their continued belief in democracy, freedom and the rule of law.”
He added: “Of course we have experienced the darkest times and the most terrible consequences of conflict, but perhaps now, decades later, acknowledgment of past suffering has become the basis of honest friendship.”
Before the banquet, Sir Keir welcomed Mr Steinmeiet to Downing Street, where the pair discussed tackling immigration and support for Ukraine.
Mr Steinmeier said that since the “difficult days” following Britain’s vote to leave the EU, countries had improved their “ability to manage this a little better”.
He said relations had improved with the signing in July of the so-called Kensington Agreement, which aimed to deepen ties in areas ranging from defense to migration.
