BERLIN (AFP) – Britain and Germany stand united with Ukraine in its battle against Russia’s unprovoked invasion, King Charles III said in Berlin on Wednesday during his first foreign visit as king.
At a state banquet hosted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the monarch underlined both countries’ commitment to “protecting and advancing shared democratic values”.
“This is epitomised so clearly as we stand together with Ukraine in defence of freedom and sovereignty in the face of unprovoked aggression,” he said.
The British sovereign, 74, is on a three-day visit of Germany in a trip billed as “an important European gesture” to maintain strong ties after Brexit. Hailing the “enduring value” of ties with Germany, he said he would “do all I can to strengthen the connections between us”.
Host Steinmeier had earlier spoken of the “sad day” six years ago when Britain began its exit from the European Union (EU).
“Today, exactly six years later, we are opening a new chapter,” the German President said.
“We are now looking ahead under changed conditions but still together,” he said, adding in English that “our friendship is important, and it is strong”.
Britain and Germany’s joint actions to help Ukraine in defending its freedom underlined “how strong our connection is”, said Steinmeier.
Germany rolled out the pomp in their welcome of the royal visitors, greeting them at Berlin-Brandenburg airport with a 21-gun salute while two military jets made a flypast as they watched from the top of the plane stairs. The British Union Jack was flapping alongside the German and EU flags along Berlin’s central Unter den Linden avenue, which leads to the Brandenburg Gate.
Steinmeier and German first lady Elke Buedenbender met the royal couple with military honours at the landmark, the first time it has provided a backdrop for receiving a state guest.
During his visit, Charles will also become the first monarch to address the German Parliament before travelling to the port city of Hamburg today.
The choice of Germany for Charles’s first visit, after a planned trip to France was postponed, showed Berlin was a “key partner” for Britain as it seeks to reset relations with the EU, daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote.
