The royal family have welcomed the German president and his wife to the UK for a historic state visit.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Budenbender at Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning at the of their state trip.
The couple were then warmly met by the King and Queen outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station, before being treated to colourful carriage ride through the streets of the Berkshire town and a 41-gun royal salute.
It is the first state visit to the UK by a German president in 27 years, and the fifth since 1958. It comes after the King and Queen undertook a state visit to Germany in 2023.
A carpet-lining party, formed of The King’s Colour Squadron, Royal Air Force, was in position on Wednesday morning for the arrival of the president’s Bundesrepublik Deutschland plane.
Dressed in a suit, William greeted the King’s guests alongside Kate, who was wearing a Burberry dress with a blue coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
The royal couple shook hands with the president and his wife, with Ms Budenbender bringing her hand to her chest as she smiled and chatted with Kate.
Also waiting at the airport in west London was a welcome party which included Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Matt Jukes and the British ambassador to Germany, Andrew Mitchell.
The couple then went on to meet the King and Queen in the chilly open air, outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station.
Charles opened his arms wide as Mr Steinmeier approached and loudly told the King: “It’s so wonderful, your majesty, to see you again” before giving a hearty chuckle as he placed his hand on top of the King’s as they shook hands.
In the bright, cold December sunshine, the royal party and their guests took part in a colourful carriage ride through the streets of the Berkshire town, led by a Sovereign’s Escort from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
A 41-gun royal salute was fired from the East Lawn within Windsor Home Park, timed with military precision to coincide with the King and Camilla greeting their guests at midday, before they introduced them to local dignitaries and joined them for the playing of the German national anthem.
The streets were guarded by ceremonial troops from the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army, and the Royal Air Force, and lined with German and Union flags.
Mr Steinmeier and Ms Budenbender will be treated to a lavish state banquet in St George’s Hall this evening, which has been decorated for Christmas with a six-metre Christmas tree, grown in Windsor Great Park and featuring 3,000 sparkling lights.
On Thursday morning, he will privately lay flowers at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the castle’s St George’s Chapel, before joining the King and Queen for a Big Help Out reception to showcase the impact volunteering can have on communities.
Before a formal farewell, they will be shown the State Sleigh, which was designed by Queen Victoria’s German-born husband, Prince Albert and recorded in Victoria’s diary in 1845.
State visits, which capitalise on the soft power of the royal family to strengthen diplomatic ties overseas, have moved from Buckingham Palace to Windsor for the next few years while reservicing work continues at the London royal residence
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