King Charles decries ‘Russian aggression’ in pledge on defending Europe | Germany
While hosting German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, King Charles said Britain and Germany were ready to “support Europe” against the threat of further aggression from Russia and that both countries were “on the side” of Ukraine.
The visit comes at a difficult time for Europe in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine and aims to highlight the Kensington agreement signed in July, the first formal agreement between Britain and Germany since the second world war, which laid out plans for closer cooperation on migration, defence, trade and education.
At a state banquet at Windsor Castle, Charles acknowledged that England and Germany had “experienced the darkest times and the most terrible consequences of conflict” but that decades later “the recognition of past suffering has become the basis of an honest friendship that is renewed and redoubled”.
The king spoke of the two countries’ “shared values” and “shared vision for the future of our modern world”. He added that the two countries “together stand with Ukraine and support Europe against the threat of further aggression from Russia.”
Sitting next to the Princess of Wales, Steinmeier praised the Kensington agreement and said that the two countries “are working together to once again strengthen the humanitarian ties that have weakened due to Brexit.”
He also echoed the king’s words about tensions in Europe, telling guests: “We are working together to improve security and defence, side by side for a free, peaceful Europe, side by side to support Ukraine.”
Earlier, Steinmeier was greeted with military splendor, a 41-gun royal salute and an oversized Royal Standard celebratory flag flying above Windsor Castle.
The King and Queen Camilla accompanied the president and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the streets of Windsor at the start of a three-day visit during which the German leader will make a moving visit to the ruins of Coventry cathedral, which was bombed during the second world war.
Speaking at number 10 Downing Street before private meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Steinmeier said that UK-Germany relations are “in a much better state” than the “challenging” period after Brexit and that relations have improved with the Kensington agreement.
“We are facing a new security situation in Europe, if not all over the world. Therefore, closer cooperation is needed,” he said.
Starmer said the two countries “work very, very closely on very important issues like Ukraine, where two countries think alike and act alike, getting stronger and stronger on immigration, economic growth and trade.”
For the first time in modern history, the state banquet had a Christmassy feel, with the table decorated with festive crimson poinsettias and bright red berries and mini fir trees inside St George’s Hall, which boasted a six-metre Christmas tree with 3,000 lights, reflecting a German tree tradition popularized by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
German supermodel Claudia Schiffer was sitting next to Starmer. Her husband, film producer Sir Matthew Vaughn, soundtrack composer Hans Zimmer, Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse and The Gruffalo children’s book illustrator Axel Scheffler were among the 152-strong guest list.
In her greeting to the king’s guests, the Princess of Wales diplomatically opted for Queen Victoria’s Oriental Ring Tiara, made of diamonds and rubies, designed for Victoria by her German-born husband, Prince Albert, in 1853.
A Black Forest cake cocktail was created specially for the occasion. The menu consisted of hot smoked trout tartlet with crayfish, quail eggs and shellfish sauce; Windsor partridge wrapped in puff pastry with confit kale and port sauce. For dessert we had baked Alaska with blackberry, vanilla and raspberry ice creams. The wine list diplomatically included a German white wine – Joh. Jos. Prüm, Graacher Himmelreich, Spätlese, 2010.
In the traditional gift exchange, Charles presented the president with a handmade walking stick and a decorative clotted cream dish from the Isle of Mull, and received an umbrella and a specially made cheese in return.
Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic accused Thames Valley police of attacking free speech, with protesters chanting “Charles, what are you hiding?” The banner references the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor debate as the state visit procession passes through Windsor.
In response, Thames Valley police said they “facilitated a peaceful protest” and that officers “asked them to retreat to the designated protest area” and stopped them by shouting loudly while horses were nearby.
