The British King Charles III. and his wife Camilla are coming to Germany for their first state visit at the end of the month. The royal couple will be in Berlin, Brandenburg and Hamburg from March 29th to 31st, as the Office of the Federal President announced in Berlin on Friday. "This early visit underscores the close and warm friendship between our countries and our citizens," said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a video message.
The new king will also pay a visit to France beforehand. "The fact that King Charles chose Germany and France as the first travel destinations before his coronation is also an important European gesture," said Steinmeier. "I would like to say to him, but of course also to all Britons: We in Germany, we in Europe, want close and friendly relations with the United Kingdom even after Brexit."
On March 29, Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender welcomed the royal couple with military honors in Berlin. In the evening, the Federal President invites you to a state banquet in Bellevue Palace in honor of the king. On the second day, the Federal President and his state guest will attend appointments in Berlin and Brandenburg, and on the third day, the Federal President and Büdenbender will accompany their guests to Hamburg.
According to Steinmeier, he last met the king at the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II in London. "I invited him to Germany as the new king," he said now. "The fact that he is now accepting this invitation six months later shows how much the king values the friendship between our peoples." In English, the Federal President added in his video message: "Your Majesty: I look forward to welcoming you in Germany."
The Hamburg Senate said that Mayor Peter Tschentscher (SPD) would welcome the royal couple to City Hall on March 31 for an entry in the Hanseatic city's Golden Book. "The visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is a great honor for the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg," said Tschentscher. "It strengthens the good relations between the United Kingdom and the Hanseatic city, which is considered the 'most British city on the continent'."
