German President Steinmeier Begins First UK State Visit in Nearly Three Decades
Three-day visit hosted by King Charles III highlights strengthened UK-Germany ties under the Kensington Treaty
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in the United Kingdom on December 3 for a three-day state visit, marking the first trip of its kind by a German head of state in nearly thirty years.
He and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, were formally welcomed at Windsor Castle by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who hosted a ceremonial procession to open the visit.
The schedule includes high-level meetings, beginning with talks at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, followed by a state banquet at Windsor.
The visit is widely seen as a diplomatic milestone, coming several months after the signing of the Kensington Treaty, a comprehensive bilateral agreement that strengthened cooperation on migration, defence, trade and education.
Steinmeier will also address British lawmakers and visit Coventry Cathedral, a site deeply tied to the wartime history between the two nations and long regarded as a symbol of reconciliation.
Both governments have described the visit as a reaffirmation of shared interests at a moment when European partners face complex security and economic challenges.
Officials in London and Berlin noted that the state visit reflects a renewed sense of partnership, with both countries positioning themselves for closer coordination in the years ahead.
He and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, were formally welcomed at Windsor Castle by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who hosted a ceremonial procession to open the visit.
The schedule includes high-level meetings, beginning with talks at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, followed by a state banquet at Windsor.
The visit is widely seen as a diplomatic milestone, coming several months after the signing of the Kensington Treaty, a comprehensive bilateral agreement that strengthened cooperation on migration, defence, trade and education.
Steinmeier will also address British lawmakers and visit Coventry Cathedral, a site deeply tied to the wartime history between the two nations and long regarded as a symbol of reconciliation.
Both governments have described the visit as a reaffirmation of shared interests at a moment when European partners face complex security and economic challenges.
Officials in London and Berlin noted that the state visit reflects a renewed sense of partnership, with both countries positioning themselves for closer coordination in the years ahead.
