King Charles arrives at Bundestag for day 2 of state visit to Germany

The King will today become the first British monarch to address German politicians from the Bundestag, while the parliament is in session, during his historic state visit to the country.

The British monarch was greeted warmly by Chancellor Olaf Scholz as he arrived at the Federal Chancellery building. 

Later Charles will deliver a speech to the Bundestag which will celebrate the deep historical bonds and longstanding links between Germany and the UK.

The King and Queen Consort’s state visit to Germany, the first of Charles’ reign, began on Wednesday with a ceremonial greeting at Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes Britain’s King Charles III at the chancellery in Berlin this morning

Charles skips from his royal car as he begins day two of his historic trip to Germany

Charles skips from his royal car as he begins day two of his historic trip to Germany

The monarch was meant to be in France earlier in the week but it was called off by President Macron due to ongoing protests over his pension reforms. 

During a speech at a state banquet staged in his honour on Wednesday evening, Charles pledged to ‘strengthen the connections’ between the UK and Germany as he paid tribute to the ‘enduring value’ of the two nations’ relationship.

Later, the King and the Queen Consort will visit Wittenbergplaztz Food Market and meet a range of local business owners who will discuss the history of the market.

Germany has welcomed more than a million Ukrainian refugees seeking sanctuary after Russia invaded their homeland and Charles will tour the Tegel Refugee Centre to meet some of the group.

Separately the Queen Consort will visit the Refugio House community centre, a meeting place for locals and new Berlin residents, including refugees.

King Charles’ trip to Germany has been a massive hit.

On an impromptu walkabout, the monarch was affectionately offered a crown – a paper one – on the first official engagement of his State Visit to Germany yesterday.

He was undertaking a walkabout at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he came across a number of well-wishers who were wearing ‘Burger King’ crowns given away by the fast food giant.

One man took his off and tried to press it into the king’s hands, saying politely: ‘This is for you, if you want it.’

Charles smiled broadly and said: ‘I’m alright!’ He, of course, has a number of real ones at home. He also grinned and declined another crown from a woman who said: ‘I have a present for you’.

The King was also seen bending down to pick up a man’s cap before returning it back to him, with the grateful well-wisher thanking him and bowing.

Charles and Camilla – who posed for selfies with fans – were formally greeted at the Brandenburg Gate by Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and wife Elke Budenbender before the national anthems were played. 

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are welcomed at the Brandenburg Gate by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are welcomed at the Brandenburg Gate by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender

In a sign of the importance placed on the visit, the couple were given the first full ceremonial and military welcome at the landmark since the Second World War. Even Queen Elizabeth II, who also visited Berlin for her last ever State Visit abroad in 2015, wasn’t afforded that honour. 

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 King spoke for the first time this afternoon about cancelling the visit, telling a reporter it was ‘very sad’. 

In Berlin, Queen Consort sported a colourful turquoise coat and dress by Bruce Oldfield and a jaunty hat by Philip Treacy. 

And in a beautifully personal detail, she was sporting a brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth, given to the late monarch by Queen Mary on her confirmation in 1942.

The King’s foresight on climate change was hailed by President Steinmeier at a green energy reception held at Schloss Bellevue.

The monarch followed a translation of the President’s remarks in a booklet and smiled warmly as Mr Steinmeier repeated them in English.

He also thanked the King for making his first State Visit to Germany, saying: ‘This visit, Your Majesty’s very first trip abroad as the new King, is a tremendous personal gesture – and for that I would like to express my heartfelt thanks. I am looking forward to the coming days and to the many opportunities we will have to exchange views.’

The monarch was told that this year work will begin on an undersea power cable between the Isle of Grain in Kent and Wilhelmshaven in Germany, with the President adding: ‘This first direct energy link highlights how closely Germany and the United Kingdom are working together to make our economies climate-neutral.

‘I regard this as an encouraging example – just as Your Majesty’s visit to Germany is encouraging.’

At a reception designed to highlight the work of the UK and Germany in promoting climate and sustainability efforts, the King met Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr Robert Habeck and heard how the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue is advancing the global green transition.

The event, which coincides with the State Visit, is a leading international forum for politicians, policymakers, industry, science and civil society.

The King met guests including the UK’s foreign minister James Cleverly, Energy Ministers, CEOs, experts and academics

At one point during the walkabout, the King bent down to pick up a man's cap before returning it back to him

At one point during the walkabout, the King bent down to pick up a man's cap before returning it back to him

At one point during the walkabout, the King bent down to pick up a man’s cap before returning it back to him

The grateful well-wisher bowed and thanked the King, who continued moving down the line

The grateful well-wisher bowed and thanked the King, who continued moving down the line 

Charles was undertaking a walkabout at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he came across a number of well-wishers who were wearing 'Burger King' crowns given away by the fast food giant

Charles was undertaking a walkabout at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he came across a number of well-wishers who were wearing ‘Burger King’ crowns given away by the fast food giant

Charles' joins the German president to plant a tree in honour of Queen Elizabeth II

Charles’ joins the German president to plant a tree in honour of Queen Elizabeth II

The King chats with attendees at a Green Energy reception at Bellevue Palace

The King chats with attendees at a Green Energy reception at Bellevue Palace

He had an animated chat with a group of young climate activists in Berlin for the Dialogue and was presented with a traditional ‘lengyan phi’, a handwoven scarf from Manipur in India, by 11-year-old Licypriya Kangujan.

Referring to the issue of climate change in her home country, the monarch said: ‘I know what a huge challenge it is in India.’

Licypriya, who was in Germany with her mother Bidyarani, said afterwards: ‘It was really nice to meet King Charles III, I really never hoped it might happen.

‘I was really happy and excited to meet him. We had a conversation about the loss and damage in India and about climate finance and climate justice.

‘It’s good to know that he has always been working for the environment.’

Elizabeth Wathuti, 27, from Kenya, said: ‘It was great to have a conversation with the King and share with him what we really need and the realities of climate change.’

Mitzi Jonelle Jan, 25, from the Phillipines, added: ‘We were able to talk about the oil spill in the Phillipines and climate reparations and finance and how there needs to be more pressure.’

The King and President Steinmeier posed for a photograph with the group before leaving to plant a tree in the garden of the presidential palace.

The two men were locked in conversation as they walked to the spot where an ash tree had been positioned and took turns to shovel soil around the tree, with the King patting the tree trunk once they had finished.

The sapling was planted as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

The foursome seemed to enjoy each other's company as they chatted in front of the famous landmark

The foursome seemed to enjoy each other’s company as they chatted in front of the famous landmark 

The King inspected a guard of honour that had gathered to greet him

The King inspected a guard of honour that had gathered to greet him 

A man wears a paper crown and a Union flag while waiting for the royals to arrive

A man wears a paper crown and a Union flag while waiting for the royals to arrive 

Charles is handed a blue paper bag by a wellwisher in Berlin

Charles is handed a blue paper bag by a wellwisher in Berlin

His visit 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. 

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