There were talks, there was intense speculation over what would be the destination of King Charles III’s first outgoing State Visit of his reign.
Some had imagined another Monarchy, perhaps Denmark, who now has the longest reigning Sovereign in Europe, or Sweden, where King Carl XVI Gustaf is celebrating his Golden Jubilee in 2023.
But in the end, it was a rather sentimental and diplomatically significant country that was selected: King Charles and Queen Camilla will be travelling to France and Germany at the end of the month.
Diplomatically significant, because the central European countries are widely considered to be the economic engines of the continent, as well as the most influential voices in the European Union.
Sentimentally poignant, because Germany ended up being the last outgoing State Visit ever performed by Queen Elizabeth II. It was 2015, and the Monarch was already 89 years old, so she ended up gradually giving up travels abroad.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat State Visit in June 2015 ended up producing some iconic pictures that have been used even in the commemoration pieces that popped up on global media following her death.
So when King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive in Berlin, they will undoubtedly do so with this special connection in mind.
A connection, but also a very dense agenda, with the traditional elements of every State Visit (welcome ceremonies, meetings with top officials, State banquets) mixing with engagements that reflect the times we live in.
In Berlin, the King is set to meet with Ukrainian refugees that have found shelter in Germany, and listen to their stories. There are also plans in place for the Monarch to meet with a delegation of the German Armed Forces.
All of this will be a testament to the close cooperation that the United Kingdom and Germany have created in order to create a common front in the face of Russia’s invasion of its neighbour. A front that has seen the two countries provide weapons and humanitarian aid, as well as welcoming refugees with open arms.
There will also be discussions about the future of the fight against climate change, a topic that King Charles has been passionate about for many decades and that sees Germany as one of the leading industries in the creation of green technologies.
It will therefore be a poignant and dense State Visit, one of the first of King Charles III’s reign, in the same country that hosted his mother’s last.
