Germany鈥檚 President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (L) speaks to Britain鈥檚 King Charles III (R) as they attend a state banquet at the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin, on March 29, 2023. Britain鈥檚 King Charles III began his first state visit, having postponed a trip to France due to widespread political protests. Charles will undertake engagements in the German capital and in Brandenburg before heading to Hamburg during the three-day tour. (Photo by Ian Vogler / POOL / AFP)
Berlin, Germany 鈥斅燘ritain and Germany stand united with Ukraine in its battle against Russia鈥檚 unprovoked invasion, Charles III said in Berlin on Wednesday during his first foreign visit as king.
At a state banquet hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the monarch underlined both countries鈥� commitment to 鈥減rotecting and advancing shared democratic values鈥�.
鈥淭his is epitomized so clearly today as we stand together with Ukraine in defense of freedom and sovereignty in the face of unprovoked aggression,鈥� he said.
The British sovereign, 74, is on a three-day visit of Germany in a trip billed as 鈥渁n important European gesture鈥� to maintain strong ties after Brexit.
Hailing the 鈥渆nduring value鈥� of ties with Germany, he said he would 鈥渄o all I can to strengthen the connections between us鈥�.
Host Steinmeier had earlier spoken of the 鈥渟ad day鈥� six years ago when Britain began its exit from the European Union.
鈥淭oday, exactly six years later, we are opening a new chapter,鈥� the German president said.
鈥淲e are now looking ahead under changed conditions 鈥� but still together,鈥� he said, adding in English that 鈥渙ur friendship is important, and it is strong鈥�.
Britain and Germany鈥檚 joint actions to help Ukraine in defending its freedom underlined 鈥渉ow strong our connection is,鈥� said Steinmeier.
Stately welcome
Germany rolled out the pomp in their welcome of the royal visitors, greeting them at Berlin-Brandenburg airport with a 21-gun salute while two military jets made a flypast as they watched from the top of the plane stairs.
The British Union Jack was flapping alongside the German and European Union flags along Berlin鈥檚 central Unter den Linden avenue, which leads to the Brandenburg Gate.
Steinmeier and German first lady Elke Buedenbender met the royal couple with military honours at the landmark, the first time it has provided a backdrop for receiving a state guest.
During his visit, Charles will also become the first monarch to address the German parliament, with a speech on Thursday, before travelling to the port city of Hamburg on Friday.
The choice of Germany for Charles鈥檚 first visit, after a planned trip to France was postponed, showed Berlin was a 鈥渒ey partner鈥� for Britain as it seeks to reset relations with the EU, daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote.
Britain鈥檚 Foreign Secretary James Cleverly (L), Britain鈥檚 King Charles III (C) and Britain鈥檚 Camilla, Queen Consort attend a state banquet at the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin, on March 29, 2023. (Photo by Ian Vogler / POOL / AFP)
Public interest
At the Brandenburg Gate, crowds were waving British and German flags as they waited for the royals.
Anja Wieting, 50, who works at a clothing store, took time off to drive five hours to Berlin with her daughter Lili, 18, for the spectacle.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the visit of the king in Germany. We want to celebrate it, regardless of how long the queue is,鈥� she told AFP.
The joy of well wishers who came face-to-face with the royals was palpable.
鈥淚 was shocked,鈥� said 19-year-old Andreina Riera from Venezuela, whose paper crown, adorned with a Burger King logo, was complimented by the Queen Consort.
鈥淚 never imagined that could happen 鈥� her noticing me! I鈥檓 really happy,鈥� Riera told AFP.
鈥淭he British royal family garners a lot of interest鈥� in Germany, said Michael Hartmann, a sociology professor at Darmstadt Technical University.
The fascination with the House of Windsor has not dimmed since the death last year of Elizabeth II, Hartmann told AFP.
The late queen first visited Berlin in 1965 when the city was divided between a capitalist West and communist East, a trip that was seen as a key step in post-war reconciliation.
Charles himself is a regular in Germany, having been in the country more than 40 times.
He is fluent in German, a nod to the British royal family鈥檚 roots in Germany notably through Charles鈥檚 great-great-great-grandfather Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, queen Victoria鈥檚 husband.
Organic farm
After Wednesday鈥檚 ceremonial pomp, Charles will undertake key political engagements on the second day of his trip.
He will start the day with talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz before addressing the Bundestag.
He will also meet refugees recently arrived from Ukraine, and meet a British-German military unit in the surrounding state of Brandenburg.
A tour of an organic farm is also planned for the monarch, who has for years been pushing an environmental agenda.
Charles was initially supposed to travel to France before heading to Germany, but his trip was postponed in the wake of violent pension reform protests.