King Charles was told tonight that Brexit had weakened the bonds between the UK and Germany, but the Royal Family had helped to rebuild them, having “consistently forged new ties” between the two countries.
The King and Queen, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, were listening to their guest, the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, during the official speeches at the state banquet in Windsor Castle.
President Steinmeier had earlier met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, saying the UK-German relationship is in “far better shape” than in the “difficult” post-Brexit period, as ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports
It was staged in St George’s Hall at a 45-metre-long table at the end of the first day of the state visit by President Steinmeier and his wife.
It is the third state visit the King has hosted this year, after previously welcoming the presidents of the USA and France.
The King and Queen hosted Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Credit: PA
The role of the German President is largely ceremonial, and the head of state does not get involved in the day-to-day politics, which are the responsibility of the German Chancellor.
Nevertheless, Frank-Walter Steimeier did not hold back when he spoke about the damage caused by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
The German President told King Charles that he should be thanked for his family’s work to promote reconciliation after the “bad chapter” of our shared history.
The King delivered a speech at the state banquet on Wednesday. Credit: PA
He said: “The Windsors have consistently forged new ties and thereby promoted German-British relations. Just as you still do today.”
But turning to the 2016 referendum, the President said: “Brexit was a profound watershed. But we have not allowed this decision to damage our friendship… And we are working together to strengthen once again the human ties that have been weakened by Brexit.”
Wednesday’s state banquet is thought to be the first in modern history to feature a Christmas tree. Credit: PA
For his part, the King spoke of the reconciliation between Britain and Germany since the end of the Second World War.
He said: “We have, of course experienced the darkest of times and the most terrible consequences of conflict. But perhaps now, so many decades later, the acknowledgement of past suffering has become the basis for an honest friendship renewed and redoubled.”
In both their speeches, the two heads of state pointed to the aforementioned “dark times,” with the King continuing: “The tumultuous period of political, social and technological change… has tested our values.
“Many have found that unsettling and even frightening. Fear can lead to anger and resentment.
“You yourself have also reminded us that progress need not be loud to be lasting, and that decency — quietly practised, can be one of the most powerful forces in public life.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales were also in attendance at Wednesday’s state banquet. Credit: PA
Despite references to difficult times throughout history, there was time for light-hearted humour too.
Pointing to some shared qualities, the King joked: “It is undoubtedly true that your language contains a very large number of very long words.
“As someone who has spent some time trying to learn a little Welsh, I have some sympathy for the proposition that needless gaps between words are a dreadfully inefficient use of paper.”
In a playful dig at German auto-engineering, the King said: “As you travelled this afternoon in the most comfortable and lowest emissions vehicle in the world: the horse-drawn Royal Carriage! It might only be six horsepower, but sometimes a simpler vehicle is all one needs.”
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Among the guests was German former footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger, who played for Aston Villa, the Premier League team supported by William, and England Lioness Georgia Stanway.
The King said: “Football is of course another shared endeavour, and I am delighted to see so many of the footballing fraternity around the table with us here this evening.
“Of course, I use the word ‘shared’ in the broadest meaning of the word: there was, one has to admit, some element of truth in the famous description of football as a game where 11 people play 11 people, and then, in the end, the Germans win!”
Steinmeier had earlier met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, where the pair voiced the same sentiment, with the German president saying the UK-German relationship is in “far better shape” than in the “difficult” post-Brexit period.
The state visit will conclude on Friday.
This is the Talking Royals – our weekly podcast about the royal family, with ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship and Producer Lizzie Robinson