King Charles Hosts German President on First UK State Visit in 27 Years

King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for Germany’s first UK state visit in 27 years.

sarah

Dec 3, 2025 - 19:30

King Charles Hosts German President on First UK State Visit in 27 Years

King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed the German President to the UK for a state visit.

President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, landed at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday morning and will receive a grand ceremonial welcome in Windsor, beginning with a carriage ride to the castle.

This is Germany's first state visit in 27 years.

Such state visits are about projecting soft power and building relationships, and this three-day visit will feature a mix of pageantry, politics, and culture.

The President's events will include a state banquet, speaking in Parliament, meeting the Prime Minister in Downing Street, and meeting German footballers playing in the Premier League.

German flags are flying on Windsor High Street, and visitors will receive a formal welcome ceremony and witness a military parade on the manicured lawns inside Windsor Castle.

The Foreign Office has planned state visits to build diplomatic relations with key partners.

The visit will strengthen the Kensington Treaty signed between the UK and Germany in July, which emphasized military and business cooperation and closer ties between the countries, including plans for a direct rail link.

The UK government also expects further assistance from Germany in preventing illegal migration. The National Crime Agency previously stated that equipment used to cross the Channel is stored in Germany.

Gifts will be exchanged between the King and his German visitors, and in the evening, speeches will be given at a State Banquet in St. George's Hall inside Windsor Castle, attended by royals, politicians, and celebrities.

Some of the King's speech may be delivered in German.

When he visited Germany in 2023, King Charles spoke about the need to support Ukraine, and attention will be paid to what he can say about the war and the ongoing negotiations to end it.

The last state visit was by US President Trump, who, instead of participating in a public carriage ride, flew to and from Windsor by helicopter to increase his security and avoid protesters.

With Christmas approaching, the German roots of some Christmas traditions are likely to be mentioned, including the popularization of the Christmas tree by Queen Victoria's husband, Albert.

Although there will be no snow, visitors will be shown a sleigh designed by Prince Albert, born in Germany in 1845.

There will also be symbolic signs of reconciliation, including the German President's visit to the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed during World War II.

This is similar to the visit to Hamburg during the UK's state visit to Germany, when King Charles laid a wreath in memory of civilians killed in wartime Allied bombing.

Oxford University will confer an honorary degree on President Steinmeier, and the trip will showcase medical technology at the university and joint UK-German research projects.

Ms. Büdenbender will visit Judith Kerr Primary School in southeast London to mark the connection of her name to Judith Kerr, the German-born author of the children's book "The Tiger Who Came to Tea."

The German President will visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and meet German footballers playing in the English Premier League.

And at the V&A East Storehouse, visitors will see the David Bowie Centre, which houses items related to the pop star, such as stage costumes and musical instruments.