King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla arrived in Germany on Wednesday, March 24, for a four-day state visit that aims to celebrate Britain’s relationship and share history with France and Germany. While the couple had to postpone their trip to France due to media coverage of the country’s labor union’s nationwide protests and strikes, they is set to attend various events in Germany.
Warm Welcome Followed by Various Official Events
As King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla landed at Berlin Tegel Airport on Wednesday, they received a warm welcome with a 21-gun salute and two military jets. The visit moved forward with the couple addressing the national parliament, attending a state banquet, and attending a reception in Hamburg with local British community members. Furthermore, they are also set to meet representatives from joint military units, learn about green tech used at the port of Hamburg during their visit to the St. Nikolai Memorial.
Preparation for King Charles III’s Coronation
Alongside the couple’s state visit event in Germany, preparations are underway in London for King Charles III’s coronation. Set to follow nearly a thousand years of tradition, St. Edward Crown is being prepared for him to wear on May 6th, marking his formal crowning at Westminster Abbey.
While visiting Berlin, a young man presented a paper Burger King crown to King Charles. Although politely declined by the kind king it was perceived by many as amusing.
A New Perspective on WWII Era
The royal couple is also expanding their horizons in terms of appreciating other cultures’ painful pasts. As per one of the reports released on this state visit of the Royal Couple that was issued by Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), King Charles III is going to become the first British monarch to lay a wreath at Hamburg’s St. Nikolai Memorial to commemorate not just the German victims of Operation Gomorrah during World War II, but also those from other nationalities including Britons, whose lives were lost in allied air raids.
Unique Approach by King Charles III
The ceremony at the St. Nikolai memorial will mark the upcoming 80th anniversary of the allied air raids on Hamburg. This marks a stark difference from previous approaches of British monarchs who avoided such visits, including King’s mother Queen Elizabeth II who visited Dresden back in 1992 but did not lay any wreath of reconciliation there.
Overall, King Charles’s and Queen Consort Camilla’s visit to Germany is viewed as an attempt to patch up relations frayed by Britain’s exit from the EU, while also exploring new avenues that might help build relationships with other countries on different fronts.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
