Federal President Frank Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender received King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for their first state visit to Germany from 29 to 31 March. The visit prior to the coronation ceremony on 6 May testified to the close friendship between the United Kingdom and Germany and underscored the many different facets of relations between the two countries.

The programme of the state visit reflected the past, present and future stretching from remembrance and reconciliation to how to deal with the current challenges posed by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the shared commitment to climate protection and the energy transition.

On the afternoon of 29 March, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender welcomed the British royal couple with military honours at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin where members of the public had an opportunity to meet the royal visitors. Thereafter, Federal President Steinmeier extended an invitation to a reception on energy transition and sustainability in Schloss Bellevue to give the King an insight into Germany’s national and international commitment to climate protection and the energy transition. In the evening, Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender hosted a state banquet in honour of the King and the Queen Consort at which both Heads of State gave a speech.

On 30 March, the Federal President was in attendance when King Charles III addressed the German Bundestag. The Heads of State then visited the arrival centre for Ukrainian refugees in the former Tegel airport and talked to refugees. While Elke Büdenbender and Queen Consort Camilla visited the Komische Oper in the afternoon, Federal President Steinmeier and King Charles III met German and British soldiers of the German-British Amphibious Engineer Battalion 130 in Finowfurt in Brandenburg where the soldiers built a bridge across the Havel Oder-Wasserstrasse. They then visited the Brodowin eco-village where they had talks focusing on topics such as green farming, issues regarding rural areas, the sale of organic products and the protection of wetlands.

On the morning of 31 March, Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender accompanid their guests to Hamburg by train. After visiting the memorial Kindertransport – the final farewell, there was a wreath-laying ceremony at St. Nikolai Memorial. St. Nikolai, formerly one of Hamburg’s main churches, was destroyed when British and American bombers attacked the city in 1943.

In front of Hamburg City Hall where the royal couple signed the Golden Book, they had the opportunity to meet members of the public. In the afternoon, the Federal President and the King used the time on a boat touring the port to talk to entrepreneurs about green energy and port development in Hamburg. As they did so, Elke Büdenbender and the Queen Consort visited the Rudolf Roß-Grundschule, a bilingual primary school providing lessons in German and English. The state visit ended with a reception hosted by the British Embassy.

Overview of the programme:

Wednesday, 29 March

• Berlin, Brandenburg Gate
  Welcoming of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla with military honours by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender
• Opportunity to meet members of the public
• Schloss Bellevue
  Welcome at the main entrance, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla sign the visitors’ book
• Address by the Federal President at a reception on energy transition and sustainability
• State banquet in honour of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla hosted by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender, with speeches by the Heads of State

Thursday, 30 March

• Reichstag building
  Speech by King Charles III to the Members of the German Bundestag
• Tegel Airport
  The Federal President and King Charles III visit the arrival centre for Ukrainian refugees and talk to refugees
• Komische Oper Berlin
  Elke Büdenbender and Queen Consort Camilla visit (the) Komische Oper
• Finowfurt, Brandenburg
  The Federal President and King Charles III meet soldiers from the German-British Amphibious Engineer Battalion 130 as they build a bridge over the Havel Oder-Wasserstrasse
• Brodowin eco-village
  The Federal President and King Charles III visit (the) Brodowin eco-village

Friday, 31 March

• Berlin Central Station
  Transfer by train to Hamburg
• Hamburg
  Visit the memorial Kindertransport – the final farewell
• St. Nikolai Memorial
  Wreath-laying ceremony
• Rathausmarkt
  Meet members of the public at Hamburg City Hall. King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla sign the Golden Book in Hamburg City Hall.
• Altona Cruise Center
  The Federal President and King Charles III take a boat trip and talk to entrepreneurs about green energy and port development
• Rudolf Roß-Grundschule
  Elke Büdenbender and Queen Consort Camilla visit the school
• Schuppen 52
  Reception hosted by the British Embassy