King Charles and Queen Camilla today welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife to Windsor Castle for the start of the first state visit by a German leader to the UK for 27 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the President and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, off the plane at Heathrow Airport this morning before travelling with them to the castle.
In recent years, the royal couple have been playing an increasingly significant role in key ceremonial occasions such as state visits, and frequently take the lead in welcoming international dignitaries and VIPs.
State visits are a focus for using the legendary ‘soft power’ of the British monarchy as a tool for building and cementing diplomatic relationships.
The next three days will see a mix of pomp and pageantry, politics, economics, sport and culture, as well as provide a vehicle for talks at a crucial period for the war in Ukraine.
At Windsor, King Charles and Queen Camilla formally welcomed the Federal President and the First Lady at the Royal Dais in the town centre as a Royal Salute fired in the Home Park at Windsor, and simultaneously at the Tower of London.
The President said to Charles: ‘It’s so wonderful Your Majesty to see you again.’
The Federal President and Ms Büdenbender then joined the King and Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, in a carriage procession to Windsor Castle.
King Charles and Queen Camilla stand with the German President and his wife during the welcome ceremony
Queen Camilla and King Charles wait for the arrival of the German President and his wife
King Charles talks to President Steinmeier during today’s welcome ceremony in Windsor
The Prince and Princess of Wales with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, at Heathrow Airport today
William and Catherine wait at the bottom of the plane to meet the President and his wife at Heathrow
Princess Catherine wears a long blue coat and has her hair down for the occasion
Princess Catherine smiles as she attends a welcome ceremony on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road
William and Kate talk as they attend the welcome ceremony today
William and Catherine chat to each other during the welcome ceremony earlier today
Kate pairs her outfit with a matching blue hate and black suede boots
German President Steinmeier inspects the Guard of Honour with King Charles
Camilla is wearing a sapphire blue silk dress, with a sapphire blue cashmere top stitch coat by Anna Valentine. She has paired the look with a feather hat by Philip Treacy, and a sapphire and diamond brooch which once belonged to Queen Victoria
King Charles and Queen Camilla talk as they wait for the arrival of German President Steinmeier
The royals stand formally welcome The Federal President and The First Lady today
Queen Camilla paired her blue coat with a pair of black trousers and matching boots
The Federal President, accompanied by the King, inspected the Guard of Honour before rejoining Queen Camilla and Ms Büdenbender, together with the Prince and Princess of Wales, to view the military Rank and March past.
Following lunch in the State Dining Room, joined by members of the Royal Family, Their Majesties will invite the President and the First Lady to view a special exhibition of items relating to Germany from the Royal Collection in the Green Drawing Room.
The President will then leave the castle to meet the Prime Minister at No.10 Downing Street for talks, while his wife visits the Judith Kerr Primary School in south east London to meet pupils and celebrate the school’s connection to its namesake, the famous German-born British writer and illustrator who authored children’s classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
However, all eyes will be back on Windsor later when the King holds a glittering state banquet in honour of his guests.
While much attention will be paid to the tiaras and outfits on display, the King and the German President will both deliver keenly-awaited speeches at the beginning of the banquet.
The visit comes at a perilous time for Europe in the face of Russian aggression in Ukraine and elsewhere.
A carriage pulls up for King Charles and German President Steinmeier to get into as they attend a welcome ceremony on the Royal Dais at Datchet Road, in Windsor
President Steinmeier during a Ceremonial Welcome in the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle
President Steinmeier and King Charles walks with an officer of the Grenadier Guards to inspect the Guard of Honour
The Household Cavalry arrives ahead of arrival of President Steinmeier and his wife
The Prince and Princess of Wales look ahead as they attend today’s ceremony to mark the start of the state visit
President Steinmeier shakes hands with dignitaries as he arrives in the UK with his wife
Prince William talks to President Steinmeier after he lands at Heathrow
Catherine introduces dignitaries to Ms Budenbender at Heathrow in London today
The Princess of Wales meets members of the carpet lining party with Ms Budenbender
William and Kate ahead of the President and his wife’s arrival at Heathrow today
Kate wears a blue coat for the occasion while William matches his wife with a blue tie
Members of the household cavalry are inspected for their positioning as they form up ahead of the arrival of German President Steinmeier
The plane carrying the German President and his wife Elke Budenbender, landing at London Heathrow Airport
Britain is also attempting to reset its relationship with its closest European neighbours following the vote to leave the EU.
Tomorrow President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender will privately visit St George’s Chapel to lay flowers on the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.
Returning to the castle, they will join with King Charles and Queen Camilla for a reception in partnership with The Big Help Out showcasing the positive impact of volunteering on communities.
The two couples will also view the rarely seen ‘State Sleigh’, which was designed by German-born Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and was recorded in the monarch’s diary in 1845.
The King and Queen will then bid a formal farewell to their guests, leaving the President and his wife to undertake other non-royal related engagements in the UK including a visit to the Bobby Moore Academy in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to meet German footballers playing for British Premier League clubs, a viewing of David Bowie-related memorabilia at the V&A East Storehouse and a visit to Coventry, which was twinned with Kiel and Dresden in Germany over their shared experience of bombardment during the Second World War.
The elderly Duke of Kent, 90, will represent the King in the city.
The German State Visit will formally conclude on Friday.
