Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are welcomed in Germany ahead of remembrance ceremony

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles are welcomed by Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier ahead of a remembrance ceremony to commemorate the war dead

  • Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall greeted at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace
  • Couple met with Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender 
  • Wearing face masks, foursome posed for picture outside 18th century building 
  • Charles expected to deliver speech urging UK and Germany to ‘act together’ to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and threat of climate change 

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were welcomed in Berlin today ahead of a remembrance ceremony to commemorate Germany’s National Day of Mourning.

The royal couple were officially greeted by the country’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace. 

The foursome, all donning face masks, posed for a socially distanced picture outside the 18th century building which is the principal official residence of the Federal President of Germany.

Charles, who celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday, wore his military medals while Camilla donned a face mask adorned in poppies. 

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were welcomed in Berlin today ahead of a remembrance ceremony to commemorate Germany’s National Day of Mourning

Charles, who celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday, wore his military medals for the sombre occasion

Charles, who celebrated his 72nd birthday yesterday, wore his military medals for the sombre occasion

Later they will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Neue Wache – New Guardhouse – home to the Central Memorial of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Victims of War and Tyranny.

The royal couple will step forward together and touch their wreaths in the German tradition of symbolically tidying the ribbons, before a moment of silence and a solo trumpeter playing The Good Comrade.

The visit will culminate with the prince and duchess travelling to the Bundestag for the Central Remembrance Ceremony marking Germany’s National Day of Mourning – the first time members of the British monarchy have attended the event.

During the event where readings will be given and a minute’s silence will be observed, Charles is set to give a historic speech urging the world to unite and stamp out hate crimes for the sake of future generations.

The royal couple were officially greeted by the country's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Berlin's Bellevue Palace

The royal couple were officially greeted by the country’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Berlin’s Bellevue Palace

Camilla dressed all in black for the occasion and wore a face mask adorned in poppies as a tribute to the war dead

Camilla dressed all in black for the occasion and wore a face mask adorned in poppies as a tribute to the war dead

Charles is expected to deliver speech urging UK and Germany to 'act together' to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and threat of climate change

Charles is expected to deliver speech urging UK and Germany to ‘act together’ to fight the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and threat of climate change 

The prince is expected to say: ‘We must be resolute in addressing acts of unspeakable cruelty against people for reasons of their religion, their race or their beliefs, wherever they occur in the world.

‘We must stand alongside each other in determined defence of the future we owe our children and our grandchildren.’  

It’s the first time a member of the Royal Family has attended the sombre occasion and is the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall’s first joint official overseas visit since the pandemic began. 

Charles will also use the speech to indicate the need for collaboration across the globe to fight Covid-19 and speak about the threat of climate change, reports the Mirror. 

He is expected to explain that the ‘challenges’ to our future are manifest, ‘whether from this dreadful pandemic which threatens not just our public health but our prosperity and security; or from the existential threat to our planet, and our way of life, from climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss.

‘These crises demand that we act together, and the partnership between the United Kingdom and Germany offers such a vital opportunity in this regard.

‘We are heavily invested in each other’s futures, such that our national interests, whilst distinct, will always be entwined.

‘As our countries begin this new chapter in our long history, let us reaffirm our bond for the years ahead.

‘Let us reflect on all that we have been through together, and all that we have learned. Let us remember all victims of war, tyranny and persecution; those who laid down their lives for the freedoms we cherish, and those who struggle for these freedoms to this day.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk