The British King Charles III. has committed to expanding cooperation with Germany. The relations between the two countries are also extremely important to him, "I am more than ever convinced of their lasting value for all of us," he said on Wednesday evening in his after-dinner speech at the state banquet in Bellevue Palace in Berlin. "I can only assure you that I will do everything I can to further strengthen our relationship during my time as king."

Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Germany in the afternoon for a three-day state visit. They were greeted with military honors at the Brandenburg Gate by their hosts, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender. Steinmeier also emphasized the strength of Anglo-German relations in his after-dinner speech that evening.

Charles said he and his wife were "deeply touched" by the warm welcome they received in Germany. The king flashed British humor when he pointed out that he had been to Germany more than forty times. "Of course, that shows how important our relationships are to me, but also, I'm afraid, how long I've been around."

Charles also thanked the Germans for the "extremely moving words of support and affection" following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September. "Your kindness has meant more to my family and I than words can express." The king also expressed his appreciation for Germany for taking in more than a million refugees from Ukraine. This is "convincing proof, it seems to me, of the generosity of the people in Germany".