King Charles welcomes German president

Britain’s King Charles received German President Frank‑Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender at Windsor, marking the first German presidential state visit in 27 years and the start of a three‑day programme to reinforce ties in the post‑Brexit era. The official reception included a ceremonial guard of honour and a carriage procession to Windsor Castle, with senior royals — King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales — joining the German delegation. Opening activities featured an exhibition at Windsor Palace and culminated in a state banquet in St George’s Hall attended by about 160 guests, where both leaders addressed the gathering.

At the banquet, Charles spoke partly in German, praising the “special friendship” between Britain and Germany and saying that a shared reckoning with history had become the foundation for an honest, renewed relationship. Steinmeier responded with a toast recalling childhood memories of hearing British radio, a “window to another world,” and referenced a tree the two leaders planted together in Berlin during Charles’s 2023 visit as a living symbol of their countries’ deepening ties. The ceremonial moments were paired with substantive diplomacy: Steinmeier was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street, to address members of parliament, and to participate in public engagements including visits to Premier League clubs where German players are based, underscoring people‑to‑people links.

The state visit is explicitly aimed at bolstering diplomatic, economic and security cooperation between two of Europe’s leading powers. It follows recent bilateral initiatives such as the Kensington Treaty, which expanded UK–Germany cooperation on defence, trade, migration and education, and signals a desire to deepen practical collaboration while projecting unity on regional and global challenges. A planned wreath‑laying at Coventry Cathedral — the site of devastating wartime bombing — highlights the visit’s reconciliation theme and the commitment of both nations to peace and a united Europe.

Observers describe the trip as both symbolic and strategic: ceremonial pomp and historical reflection serve to showcase renewed friendship and mutual respect, while high‑level meetings and business‑facing engagements aim to translate goodwill into concrete cooperation on security, climate, trade and regional stability. By combining public ceremonial gestures with targeted policy discussions, the visit seeks to reinforce ties that have become increasingly important in a changed European landscape, positioning Britain and Germany as close partners navigating shared challenges and opportunities.