King Charles welcomes German president on first state visit in 27 years

King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed the German president to the UK for an official visit.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were given a ceremonial royal reception in Windsor with brass bands and a horse-drawn carriage ride to the castle.

They might not have been expecting bright winter sunshine as the president presented the King with an umbrella on Germany’s first official visit to the UK in 27 years.

Such state visits are about projecting soft power and building relationships, and the three-day visit will see a mix of glitz, politics and cultural ties.

German flags flew along Windsor High Street for the carriage procession in which the King and President Steinmeier traveled.

Prince William and Catherine were part of the welcoming party, wearing earrings that once belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales.

Official gifts were exchanged with German visitors, perhaps trying to show that they had a sense of humor by giving the King an umbrella.

There was also a copy of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Christmas tree decorations, a nutcracker and some special cheeses from a German eco-village.

The King gave President Steinmeier a horn-handled walking stick made by artisans on the Isle of Mull, a decorative plate, and a first edition of Virginia Woolf’s biography of Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s dog named Flush.

German visitors were given a formal welcome ceremony followed by a military parade on the manicured lawns of Windsor Castle.

Anti-monarchy campaign group Republic said they were prevented by police from staging protests and unfurling banners at the parade, saying it was a “disgraceful attack on freedom of expression”.

In response, Thames Valley Police said they “mediated a peaceful protest” and that officers “asked them to stand down to our designated protest area” and stopped them from shouting loudly while horses were nearby.

Stating that no arrests were made, the police said, “Everyone has the right to protest, but if these demonstrations become disturbing or pose a threat to the public or the animals in the parade, we will take the necessary measures.”

State visits are planned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to improve diplomatic relations with important partners.

After a morning of royal hospitality, President Steinmeier went to meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for talks. In Downing Street.

Germany’s president said relations between the two countries were “much better” after “several years of increasingly difficult times” following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union in 2016.

“We are facing a new security situation in Europe, if not the whole world,” Steinmeier said, and praised the UK-Germany agreement signed in July for helping to ensure closer cooperation.

Sir Keir said the relationship was “going from strength to strength” on issues such as the war in Ukraine, migration and trade.

The aim of this visit is to strengthen the Kensington Treaty, which emphasizes military and commercial cooperation and closer ties between the UK and Germany. including plans for a direct rail link.

The UK government also hopes to get more help from Germany in stopping illegal immigration. The National Crime Agency has previously said equipment used to cross the Channel was stored in Germany.

Speeches will then be made at the evening state banquet to be held at St George’s Hall within Windsor Castle, attended by royals and politicians, as well as celebrities.

It is possible that part of the King’s speech was made in German.

When King Charles visited Germany in 2023, he talked about the need to support Ukraine and stated that attention would be paid to what he would say about the war and the ongoing negotiations to end the war.

The previous state visit was US President Trump flying in and out of Windsor by helicopter rather than participating in a public drive, beefing up his security and avoiding protesters.

As Christmas approached, references were made to the German roots of some Christmas traditions, including the popularization of the Christmas tree by Queen Victoria’s husband Albert.

Visitors were shown items from the Royal Collection, including Victoria’s 1845 diary recording her trip to Albert’s birthplace, Schloss Rosenau in Coburg.

“I remember going to this many years ago,” King Charles said.

There will be symbolic signs of reconciliation, including the German president visiting the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed during the Second World War.

This echoes a visit to Hamburg during the UK’s state visit to Germany, where King Charles laid a wreath commemorating civilian casualties in wartime Allied bombing raids.

Oxford University will award an honorary degree to President Steinmeier, and he will see medical technology developed by Siemens Healthineers, a German company, during a trip to the city.

Ms Budenbender will visit Judith Kerr Primary School in south-east London to commemorate the connection between the school and Judith Kerr, the German-born author of the children’s book of the same name, The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

The German president will go to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to meet German football players playing in the English Premier League.

At the V&A East Storehouse, visitors will see the David Bowie Centre, which features items related to the pop star, such as stage costumes and musical instruments.