State Visit to Germany

Their Majesties celebrated Britain’s relationship with Germany durung their three-day visit, marking the countries' shared histories, cultures and values. The week's engagements showcased the many ways the UK and Germany are working together on some of the world's most urgent issues, from climate change to the conflict in Ukraine. The visit also celebrated successful cultural and business partnerships.

Day Three

In den letzten drei Tagen hatten wir bei unserem ersten Staatsbesuch das große Glück, wieder einmal bei Ihnen in Deutschland zu sein, einem Land, das uns so am Herzen liegt. 

Danke für diesen rührenden und herzlichen Empfang. Auf ein baldiges Wiedersehen!

-  Charles R & Camilla R

Over the past three days, on our first State Visit, we have been most fortunate to be with you all once more in Germany, a country which is so close to our hearts.

Thank you for such a touching and warm welcome – we hope to return again soon!

- Charles R and Camilla R

The King and The Queen Consort’s State Visit to Germany has now officially drawn to close, with a warm welcome from the people of Hamburg.

Their Majesties visited the Kindertransport Memorial to mark the 85th anniversary of the remarkable UK-led rescue mission in 1938 to save 10,000 children by granting them entry to the U.K. 

At St. Nikolai Memorial Church, The King and The Queen Consort commemorated the Allied air raids on Hamburg in 1943. St. Nikolai was largely destroyed and approximately 34,000 people lost their lives. 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of British bombing of Hamburg. The visit symbolises reconciliatio and acknowledgement of the strong German-British friendship which has been built in the decades since the war. 

His Majesty’s final engagement was a Green Energy boat tour on which he learnt more about the port of Hamburg’s adoption of green technologies, meeting representatives from some of the firms involved. The boat trip passed an electrolyser site which helps generate power. This site is destined to be a key milestone of the Hydrogen Economy in Northern Germany, and gives an insight into how that transformation will become a reality.

The King and The Queen Consort Hamburg on the final day of their State Visit to Germany. 

Following their arrival at Hamburg Dammtor station, Their Majesties visited the Kindertransport Memorial. Marking the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransporte, The King and The Queen Consort heard about the remarkable UK-led rescue mission in 1938 to save 10,000 children by granting them entry to the U.K. Her Majesty laid a white rose at the memorial in memory of the 1.6 million children murdered in the Holocaust.

Their Majesties then visited St. Nikolai Memorial Church. During the Allied air raids on Hamburg in 1943, St. Nikolai was largely destroyed, yet the crypt and spire remained relatively unscathed. Approximately 34,000 people lost their lives in the bombing of Hamburg. 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of British bombing of Hamburg. The visit symbolises reconciliation, understanding and today’s firm German-British friendship.

Their Majesties received a formal welcome by the first Mayor of Hamburg while visiting Hamburg City Hall. Their Majesties then signed Hamburg’s Golden Book in the Emperor’s Hall

The King's final departure was a Green Energy boat tour is Majesty will join guests on a boat trip. His Majesty learnt about the port of Hamburg’s adoption of green technologies, meeting representatives from some of the firms involved. The trip included the viewing of an electrolyser site which helps generate power. This site is destined to be a key milestone of the Hydrogen Economy in Northern Germany, and gives an insight into how that transformation will become a reality.

Day Two

The King has become the first British Monarch to address the Bundestag.

The Bundestag is the national parliament of Germany, and is directly elected by the people. The speech by His Majesty marked the first time that a member of the Royal Family has addressed the Bundestag in session and celebrated the deep historical bonds and longstanding links between Germany and the UK. 

I can hardly begin to express the pride I feel in the strength of the partnership between our two countries. Germany, her people and distinctive culture have made such a profound impact on me over so many of my previous visits. 

His Majesty spoke of Queen Elizabeth II's role in reconciliation following the Second World War, and of the partnership between Germany and the Uk which had been built after conflict. 

Earlier in the day, The King and The Queen Consort had visited Wittenbergplatz Food Market where Their Majesties met a range of local business owners. Berlin’s weekly farmers’ market first opened over 150 years ago, as a place of trade and a meeting point where news and goods could be exchanged.

Later in the day, The King met staff volunteers and refugees at the Tegel Refugee Centre The Centre has welcomed over 70,000 arrivals from the country, who have been registered and provided with accommodation in Germany. 

The Queen Consort visited Refugio House community centre – a meeting place for locals and new Berlin residents, including refugees. The building is a local community space in the heart of the socially diverse district of Kreuzberg in central Berlin. 

Her Majesty, accompanied by Frau Büdenbender, also visited the Komishe Oper in Berlin to learn more about the opera company’s outreach projects and community engagement. Her Majesty Queen Consort heard about the history of the opera house and the unique way it engages with and supports children, young people and the elderly in the local community via a broad and inclusive range of engagement projects to bring people from all generations together and give them a greater understanding of the arts, opera and performing arts in general.

Meanwhile, The King met representatives from a joint German and UK military unit at Finowfurt and saw a demonstration of their bridge-building amphibious vehicles and Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicle’s. 

The final engagement of the day was His Majesty's visit to Brodowin Farm to learn about their experience in reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture through organic farming. His Majesty heard about their approach to reducing food waste via direct marketing and learned about a supermarket-funded wetland conservation project to reduce the impact farming has on the climate.

Day One

The King and The Queen Consort arrived in Berlin for the first State Visit of the new reign

Their Majesties were greeted by a twenty-one gun salute and fly-past at BER Berlin-Brandenburg Airport. 

The King and The Queen Consort travelled to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, one of the city’s most recognisable and historically significant landmarks. 

In the afternoon The King attended a sustainability reception at the Bellevue Palace before planting a Queen's Green Canopy tree in the gardens of the palace. The Canopy project - originally conceived to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 - aims to create a network of trees as a lasting legacy to Her late Majesty. 

In the evening, a State Banquet was held at the Bellevue Palace in honour of The King and The Queen Consort's visit. 

Both the President and The King spoke at the banquet, with His Majesty speaking fondly of previous visits to the country, and of his late mother's affection for Germany and its people. He also pledged his commitment to continuing to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. 

I can only assure you, that throughout the time that is granted to me as King, I will do all I can to strengthen the connections between us.  

You can read The King's speech in full on this website.