King Charles, welcomed by President Steinmeier in Berlin, the capital of Germany, began their three-day visit to Germany.
The royal couple arrived in the military part of Berlin-Brandenburg Airport BER in the early afternoon. Two Eurofighter aircraft flew during the arrival of King Charles, who was welcomed with official military honors.
Representatives of the Federal Office of the President and the Federal Foreign Office attended the reception of King Charles and his wife, while the guests were escorted to an armored Bentley belonging to the British Embassy.
The King and his wife were formally welcomed with military honors by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin. The traditional ritual took place for the first time at the Brandenburg Gate. Previously, official receptions were held at Bellevue Palace.
The two heads of state passed by the soldiers, listening to the anthems of the two countries together. After tight security checks, several hundred people were allowed into the closed Pariser Platz.
Many cheered as Charles and his wife Camilla got out of the limo. Steinmeier was accompanied by his wife, Elke Büdenbender. After the welcome, a reception at Bellevue Palace and a state banquet in honor of King Charles are planned for the evening.
Berlin Acting Mayor Franziska Giffey and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will welcome the royal couple on Thursday.
Charles will also be the first English King to speak in the Bundestag. Later, the King and Steinmeier will meet with Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke in Brandenburg.
Charles and Camilla will then travel to Hamburg on Friday, where the official visit ends in the evening.
Steinmeier and his wife will continue to accompany Charles and Camilla until Friday.
The visit is also considered politically significant: it’s the new king’s first trip abroad since his coronation on May 6. Three years after Brexit, the visit aims to show Britain’s ties to Germany and Europe.
King Charles has been to Germany at least 30 times
King Charles previously traveled frequently to Germany as heir to the throne. According to the British Embassy, Charles has been to Germany officially about 30 times, and there have also been private visits. At age 13, her father accompanied Prince Philip to Frankfurt to visit relatives. The German Press Agency wrote that they had made the flight in April 1962 with a “four-engine private plane belonging to the Queen of England”.
Where will King Charles stay?
Traditionally, some details of the royal visit, such as the hotel, are not disclosed.
But “Adlon Kempinski” is prepared for high-level visitors. No comments were made about the luxury hotel, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the British Embassy, ”out of appreciation”. Queen Elizabeth had stayed there twice.
The 185 square meter suite with a view of the Brandenburg Gate was renamed the Royal Suite after its second stay in 2015. An autographed photograph of Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, hangs in the living room with its fireplace and black grand piano. There is a kitchenette opposite the dining room where you can have tea even in the middle of the night. In the bath, Charles III. and his wife Camilla have their own personal sauna.
Since the monarch’s visit, the staff have known about the preferences of the British royal family.
20 thousand euros per night for the king suite! Private butler on duty around the clock is included in the price.
