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King Charles III welcomes German leader at festive state banquet
(MENAFN) King Charles III of the United Kingdom welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Windsor Castle on Wednesday for a lavish, Christmas-themed state banquet designed to strengthen diplomatic ties as Europe continues to grapple with the ongoing war in Ukraine.
St. George’s Hall was transformed with festive winter greenery and a 20-foot Christmas tree adorned with thousands of lights, creating a seasonal backdrop for the event attended by 152 guests, including political leaders, diplomats, and cultural figures.
Although state banquets often focus on ceremony and pageantry, Charles used his speech, prepared with ministerial guidance, to convey a political message.
“The UK and Germany together stand with Ukraine and bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian aggression,” he said.
Switching between English and German, he reflected on centuries of shared culture and the “most terrible consequences of conflict.” He acknowledged that social and political changes since the fall of the Berlin Wall could be “unsettling and even frightening,” adding: “Fear can lead to anger and resentment.” He called for a renewed commitment to “democracy, freedom and the rule of law.”
Steinmeier responded by affirming that Germany stood “side by side in support of Ukraine.” He also highlighted a lighter historical note, mentioning that the Christmas tree tradition was brought to Britain at Windsor Castle in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, the German wife of George III.
Senior members of the royal family attended, including Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Charles also injected moments of humor, joking about the traditional football rivalry between the two nations.
St. George’s Hall was transformed with festive winter greenery and a 20-foot Christmas tree adorned with thousands of lights, creating a seasonal backdrop for the event attended by 152 guests, including political leaders, diplomats, and cultural figures.
Although state banquets often focus on ceremony and pageantry, Charles used his speech, prepared with ministerial guidance, to convey a political message.
“The UK and Germany together stand with Ukraine and bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian aggression,” he said.
Switching between English and German, he reflected on centuries of shared culture and the “most terrible consequences of conflict.” He acknowledged that social and political changes since the fall of the Berlin Wall could be “unsettling and even frightening,” adding: “Fear can lead to anger and resentment.” He called for a renewed commitment to “democracy, freedom and the rule of law.”
Steinmeier responded by affirming that Germany stood “side by side in support of Ukraine.” He also highlighted a lighter historical note, mentioning that the Christmas tree tradition was brought to Britain at Windsor Castle in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, the German wife of George III.
Senior members of the royal family attended, including Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Charles also injected moments of humor, joking about the traditional football rivalry between the two nations.
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