London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Apr 18, 2025

The political king: Charles talks up net-zero and refugee action in Berlin visit

The political king: Charles talks up net-zero and refugee action in Berlin visit

King picks up familiar themes on first overseas trip as British monarch.
In his first overseas visit as U.K. monarch, King Charles III is doing little to dispel the notion he’s a political animal at heart.

In twin addresses Wednesday and Thursday he talked up politicians’ “vital” efforts to cut carbon emissions, praised Germany’s “extraordinary generosity” in hosting Ukrainian refugees, took a swipe at Vladimir Putin’s Russia, and attempted a patch-up job on U.K.-German relations frayed by Brexit.

Charles had previously vowed to take a restrained approach as king, having earned a reputation as prince of Wales for speaking out on hot-button political issues — and even lobbying British ministers over policies he disagreed with.

His mother, Queen Elizabeth, had famously avoided political topics as monarch, and Charles said last year that his elevation meant it would “no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply.”

But speaking Wednesday night at a state banquet at Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German president, Charles noted that both the U.K. and Germany were united by their focus on “promoting global health, net-zero and protecting our shared democratic values.”

Addressing German lawmakers in the Bundestag Thursday, Charles hailed Germany’s “courageous” move to give military support to Ukraine, and said the shift to alternative energy sources was “vital in combating the existential challenge of climate change and global warming which confronts us all.” His first official portrait as king, unveiled back home while he was on the trip, also included a subtle nod to his climate activism.

After years of Brexit tension between Germany and the U.K., Charles meanwhile went big on bolstering ties between the two countries.

Addressing the king Wednesday night, Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the vote for Brexit had been “personally … a sad day” for him, and that “plenty of people in Germany felt the same.”

While Charles did not directly mention Brexit in either of his speeches, he said he was “utterly convinced” the ties between Germany and the U.K. “will grow ever stronger” as the two countries work to “prosper and advance the urgent and vital journey towards net-zero.”

During his trip, Charles is also set to meet some of the Ukrainians who have taken refuge in Germany since Russia’s invasion. He said Wednesday night that Germany had shown “extraordinary hospitality in hosting over one million Ukrainian refugees.” And he added: “This, it seems to me, so powerfully demonstrates the generosity of spirit of the German people.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. State Department Raises El Salvador’s Safety Ranking, Making It Safer Than France and Other European Nations
UK Government Assumes Control of British Steel's Scunthorpe Plant Amid Shutdown Threat
UK MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong During Family Visit
Bangladesh Issues Arrest Warrant for UK MP Tulip Siddiq
China Urges United States to Cancel Tariffs Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
The Empire’s USD Pyramid Scheme Is Working Brilliantly—So Why ‘Fix’ It?
China Raises Tariffs on U.S. Goods to 125% Amid Escalating Trade Dispute
Elon Musk Reports $150 Billion in Projected Government Savings Amid Fraud Investigations
U.S. and Panama Finalize Defense Agreements Amid Canal Access and Chinese Influence Concerns
China Stands Firm Amidst Trade Disputes with the US: A Factual Analysis
U.S. Tariff Escalation Sparks Global Trade Tensions
Helicopter crashes in NYC with four people on board.
Australia Dismisses China's Suggestion to Collaborate Against US Tariffs
EU Postpones Response to US Tariffs
The Trump Administration is contemplating removing Chinese companies from U.S. stock exchanges.
Violent Incidents and Public Safety Concerns Escalate in London and County Durham
UK MP Arrested on Suspicion of Rape and Child Sex Offences
UK Gears Up to Respond to US Tariffs with Industrial Strategies and Trade Initiatives
‘Rocky’ star Dolph Lundgren and his wife Emma Krokdal bask in the Miami sunshine following the actor’s lengthy health struggles.
Spain Encounters Countrywide Protests as Housing Crisis Intensifies
Alisha Lehmann's Modeling Campaign and Public Controversy Stir Debate Ahead of UEFA Women's Euro
U.S. Firms with Major International Revenue Exposure in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Calls on the Federal Reserve to Reduce Interest Rates in Light of New Tariffs
President Trump Prolongs TikTok Sale Deadline by 75 Days
Global Markets Dive Amid Rising U.S.-China Trade Conflicts
British comedian Russell Brand faces charges of rape and several sexual assaults.
Kanye West Reveals in a New Song That His Wife Bianca Censori Has Departed from Him
Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme Accused of Having Sex with Human Trafficking Victims
Tom Cruise Pays Tribute to Val Kilmer at CinemaCon
Europe Pursues Digital Autonomy Amidst Transatlantic Strains
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Funding.
Charity Chairwoman Accuses Prince Harry of Bullying and Harassment
DOGE revealed that USAID provided $84 million to the Clinton Foundation. Of this amount, $3 million was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, and $10 million was used to acquire a lavish mansion.
The State Department has announced the formal closure of USAID.
Apple's Innovation Deficit: Falling Behind in AI and Foldable Technology as Chinese Developments Progress
President Trump Proposes Military Intervention to Obtain Greenland
Passenger Taken into Custody After Engaging in Masturbation on SWISS Air Flight
Barcelona player Dani Alves found not guilty of rape accusations.
PUTIN'S LIMOUSINE DETONATES—SECURITY CHAOS ENSUES
French Foreign Ministry Denounces U.S. Interference in Corporate Diversity Initiatives
Copyright Issues Emerge as AI-Generated Studio Ghibli Images Gain Popularity
This is what we refer to as CREATIVITY.
Removing the Political Opponent Means Dismissing the Remnants of Turkey's Economy.
Malaysia Strengthens Semiconductor Regulations in Response to U.S. Pressure to Restrict AI NVIDIA Chip Exports to China.
OpenAI Launches New Image Generation Tool for ChatGPT
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz Under Investigation After Journalist Added to Secret Military Chat
Ex-Business Partner of Hunter Biden Discusses Possible Pardon from President Trump
U.S. Attorney General Announces Task Force to Prosecute Government Fraud
American Brands Face Consumer Boycott in Europe Amid Escalating Trade and Political Tensions
×