Britain’s King Charles III will travel to Germany on Wednesday for his first state visit abroad during which he will address the parliament and meet with Ukrainian refugees.
Charles, who is travelling with his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, for the three-day trip will be received with a 21-gun salute at Berlin’s airport on Wednesday afternoon, before he travels on to the Brandenburg Gate.
In front of a crowd of well-wishers, the king will be the first state guest ever to be greeted with military honours at the Berlin landmark.
In the evening, Steinmeier will host a state banquet for Charles with around 130 guests.
Charles had planned to visit France before coming to Germany. But that leg of his journey was postponed due to the widespread social unrest triggered by President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform.
Charles’ trip, which comes just weeks before his coronation on May 6, is seen as marking a new beginning in the partnership between Germany and Britain.
Exactly six years ago, on March 29, 2017, the British government officially announced its exit from the European Union. Brexit was completed on Jan. 31, 2020.
The German president’s office said before the visit that London and Berlin were looking to leave the “turmoil of separation” behind them. (dpa/NAN)
