The King and Queen Consort have arrived in Germany for the first State Visit of their reign.
Charles and Camilla landed on the British Government’s Voyager plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport shortly after 2pm after leaving from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this morning.
In a unique gesture of honour, two German fighter jets accompanied the King and Queen Consort’s RAF Voyager plane when it entered German airspace. Amid brilliant blue skies, one flew to each side of the royal aircraft for around 20 minutes.
They had been due to fly in from Paris but the first part of their visit to France was cancelled at the 11th hour by President Macron amid scenes of huge civil unrest in his country. It will be re-arranged at a later date.
The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is rolling out the red carpet for his royal visitors, including honouring them with the first full ceremonial and military welcome at the Brandenburg Gate since the Second World War.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla get off their plane after landing at Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Camilla and Charles seen through the window of their official car as they drove off from the airport
In a unique gesture of honour, two German fighter jets accompanied the King and Queen Consort’s RAF Voyager plane when it entered German airspace
Even Queen Elizabeth II, who also visited Berlin for her last ever State Visit abroad in 2015, wasn’t afforded that honour.
Charles will also become the first monarch to address the German parliament, with a speech tomorrow, before travelling to the port city of Hamburg on Friday.
The trip is being seen as a sign of the importance that both Governments are placing on the visit post-Brexit and in the face of the conflict in Ukraine.
The Royal Family’s unique brand of ‘soft diplomacy’ is seen as a significant weapon for the British government to build on the already strong historic ties between the two countries.
Today, the Royal Family put out a statement sharing their excitement about the visit.
‘Ahead of our first State Visit to Germany, we are very much looking forward to meeting all of those who make this country so special,’ they wrote.
‘It is a great joy to be able to continue the deepening of the longstanding friendship between our two nations.’
The royal couple moments before stepping out of the aircraft to be greeted by an honour guard
At the airport today the King and Queen Consort were greeted by a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-past to mark the start of their State Visit
Amid brilliant blue skies, one flew to each side of the royal aircraft for around 20 minutes
The British government’s liveried Voyager plane – with Charles and Camilla inside – touches down on the runway in Berlin
The Royal Air Force plane had the German national flag and the Royal Standard flying out of the pilot’s window
An honour guard waits on the runway in Berlin for the King and Queen Consort to leave the aircraft
A royal source said: ‘The fact that the programme has so many unique ceremonial elements to it does reflect the strength of the relationship and the fact that this is the first State Visit of Their Majesties reign. The atmosphere in which this has been planned is extraordinarily positive.
‘Their Majesties are very alive to the particular context of Ukraine at the moment which is obviously one of the challenges we are facing together in Europe.’
At the airport today the King and Queen Consort were greeted by a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-past to mark the start of their State Visit.
The couple paused at the top of the plane steps to receive the salute as two military jets carried out a fly past.
As they descended the King and Queen Consort were greeted by State Secretary Dörte Dinger; the Chief of German Protocol at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Till Knorn; and the British Ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard.
Their Majesties walked along a red carpet lined by a Guard of Honour, provided by the Federal Defence Forces of Germany before being introduced by the the Chief of Protocol to Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the UK, Major General Wolfgang Gäbelein, Director of the Bundeswehr, Mrs. Andrea Kundrus, Protocol Officer for the State Visit, and Mrs. Zsófia Liptak-Jeken, Protocol Officer for the State Visit.
The visit has been designed to celebrate Britain’s relationship with Germany, marking its shared history, culture and values with the UK.
Thirty-nine year old Ewa from Berlin holds a Union Jack flag with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II
Members of German Armed Forces practice the hoisting of the Union Jack ahead of Charles’ arrival
A man fastens the red carpet in front of the Brandenburg Gate as the city prepared to welcomed Charles and Camilla
It will also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the many ways the United Kingdom is working in partnership with Germany on issues including climate change and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as develop opportunities in trade and investment and arts and culture.
There will be a significant number of engagements emphasising the United Kingdom’s bilateral relationship with Germany and, no doubt to the king’s delight, highlighting the importance of sustainability and community.
Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen Consort would also ‘reflect on the sacrifices and challenges of our shared past, out of which has come an enduring legacy of cooperation and reconciliation.’
This is the King’s 29th official visit to Germany. Her Majesty has undertaken three official visits, the last in 2020.
At a banquet at the Bellevue Palace – the president’s official residence – Charles is expected to make a speech in both English and German.
Charles will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, talk to Ukrainian refugees and meet with British and Germany military personnel who are working together on joint projects.
It is the first joint battalion between the countries for more than two centuries and was reinstituted 18 months ago.
The scene by the Brandenburg Gate this morning as Berlin got ready for the royal visit
Today, Union Jack flags have been raised along Berlin’s central Unter den Linden avenue, which leads to the Brandenburg Gate, in anticipation of the monarch’s arrival
Charles’ German cousins include Prince Rainer of Hesse (left) and Prince Ludwig of Baden (right)
