King Charles, who is on his first state trip abroad, was on Wednesday greeted with military honours at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The British monarch is on his first overseas trip since assuming the throne. He succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September. His trip as per Reuters is part of efforts to re-set the United Kingdom’s relations with Europe in the post-Brexit era. Charles III was earlier due to visit France, but the trip had to be cancelled after the nation witnessed violent protests over French President Emmanuel Macron’s new pension law.
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According to Reuters, fighter jets escorted King Charles’ place into Berlin. Charles also became the first visiting head of state to be given a ceremonial welcome at Berlin’s famous landmark, the Brandenburg gate.
“Today, exactly six years after Britain started its exit from the European Union, we are opening a new chapter in our relations,” said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Steinmeier said that the fact that the British King picked France and Germany — even before his coronation — for his initial state visit was an important “European gesture.”
The coronation of King Charles is slated to take place in May of this year.
As per Buckingham palace, Charles, who is accompanied on the three-day state visit by his wife Queen Consort Camilla, will visit Berlin, Brandenburg in the east and the northern port city of Hamburg. The British King will hold engagements on issues faced by the two countries; these include the Ukraine crisis and issues like sustainability. He will also be addressing the Bundestag or the German lower house of Parliament on Thursday. Additionally, he will meet one million Ukrainian refugees who had sought escape from the Russia-Ukraine war in Germany.
