Windsor Castle delivered a stirring display of British pageantry yesterday as His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen welcomed President Frank Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender for the first German State Visit in 27 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales joined the royal hosts, marking a significant moment in the long, complex, and ultimately steadfast friendship between the United Kingdom and Germany.
After weeks of preparation, the Armed Forces presented full ceremonial splendour in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, offering an impressive welcome to the visiting head of state. The three day visit, taking place from December 3 to 5, highlights the deep roots of Anglo German relations which span centuries, from the Hanseatic League to shared victory at Waterloo in 1815 and ongoing NATO cooperation.
Cpl Danielle Dawson UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025
A State Visit is a formal occasion in which His Majesty acts as the official host, reaffirming Britain’s ties with partners across the world. Germany’s connection to the UK is notable both historically and personally, with the King’s own lineage tracing back to the Royal House of Hannover. British Forces have maintained a presence in Germany for 80 years, first as postwar occupiers and later as steadfast allies. During the Cold War, the British Army of the Rhine numbered 55,000 soldiers while the Royal Air Force maintained about 20,000 personnel on German soil.
A warm and heartfelt state banquet
The first evening concluded with a magnificent state dinner in St George’s Hall, where humour and emotion set the tone for a visit dedicated to reconciliation and enduring partnership.
President Steinmeier thanked the Royal Family for turning “enemies” into friends and for performing the “amazing feat” of making German guests feel “at home” in Windsor. He joked amiably about beer, football, and “what German sense of humour?” before adding, “When it comes down to it, we are much more alike than some would think.”
The King responded with equal warmth, saying Britain and Germany had turned the “darkest times” into “honest friendship”. With characteristic self deprecation, he noted the “famous description of football as a game where 11 people play 11 people, and then, in the end, the Germans win.”
In a moving moment, President Steinmeier reflected: “Our history binds us together, both the good and bad chapters. This year we look back on 80 years of peace between our two countries. What a gift! Flourishing cities grew out of the ashes. Enemies become friends.”
He added directly to the King: “Your Majesty, it is not least you and your family we have to thank for this work of reconciliation.”
The King also reaffirmed shared commitments, saying, “The United Kingdom and Germany stand together with Ukraine and bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian aggression.”
Guests dined beneath a 25 foot Christmas tree illuminated with 15,000 lights, while music by German born composer Hans Zimmer accompanied the evening. Queen Camilla wore green lace and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. The Princess of Wales wore Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara of diamonds and rubies, along with a Jenny Packham gown.
Pageantry in Windsor
Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess of Wales greeted the German president at Heathrow before the official welcome on Datchet Road where crowds waved German and British flags. In the Quadrangle, President Steinmeier inspected the Guard of Honour. German media reacted enthusiastically, with Bild proclaiming “Wow, Kate!” as images of the royal procession circulated.
Gifts were exchanged, including a Scottish handmade walking stick from the King and a nutcracker, ornaments, and cheese from the president. Members of the wider Royal Family joined the luncheon that followed, and the royal hosts later escorted their guests through the Green Drawing Room to view manuscripts and treasures from the Royal Collection.
Continuing the visit
On Thursday, Their Majesties and the presidential couple will attend an engagement on community volunteering at Windsor Castle before an official farewell. On Friday, President Steinmeier and the First Lady will join the Duke of Kent in Coventry to lay a wreath at the ruins of the old cathedral, destroyed by German bombing during the Second World War, in a moment of solemn remembrance that underscores how far the two nations have come in forging peace and partnership.
The visit, rich in symbolism and friendship, stands as a testament to the resilience of British German relations and the shared values that continue to bind the two nations.
The Royal Feast – State Banquet Menu:
Tartine de Truite Fumée à Chaud Langoustines et Œufs de Caille Sauce Nantua
(Open Tartlet of Hot Smoked Trout with Langoustines, Quail Eggs and Shellfish Sauce)
Suprêmes de Perdreau de Windsor en Croute, Choux Confit, Sauce au Porto
(Windsor Partridge Supreme wrapped in Puff Pastry with Confit Cabbage and Port Sauce)
Ecrasé de Carottes et Rutabaga
(Crushed Carrots and Swede)
Panaché de Légumes d’Hiver
(Assortment of Winter Vegetables)
Omelette Norvégienne, Glace aux Mûres, Vanille et Framboises
(Baked Alaska with Blackberry, Vanilla and Raspberry Ice Creams)
Café et Mignardises
(Coffee and Petit Fours)
Wine list
Breaky Bottom, Cuvée Reynolds Stone, 2010
Joh. Jos. Prüm, Graacher Himmelreich, Spätlese, 2010
Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol, 1995
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Vintage 2002
Images: MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence.
