German State Visit LIVE: King and Queen break royal protocol with surprising move
King Charles and Queen Camilla will treat the German President and First Lady to a glittering display of pomp and ceremony at Windsor Castle today.
King Charles is hosting the German President at Windsor Castle this week (Image: Getty)
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will be welcomed to the UK today, as the red carpet and royal carriages will once again be rolled out at Windsor. The King and Queen will host the Federal President and the First Lady Elke Büdenbender at Windsor Castle from Wednesday to Friday.
The state visit, the third the King has hosted this year, marks a shift from the usual protocol that sees just two inbound state visits hosted each year. French President Emmanuel Macron was welcomed in June, and US President Donald Trump visited in September.
The first day of an official visit is marked by an impressive display of pomp and pageantry, with the guests enjoying a carriage procession through the Berkshire town – something Trump missed out on due to security concerns – a Guard of Honour in the Quadrangle of the castle and a glittering state banquet in the evening.
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KEY EVENTS
- What’s happening today?08:09
Crowds have started gathering outside Windsor Castle
Members of the public have already started to secure their place along the procession route outside Windsor Castle.
Metal barriers have been erected along the route, while sand covers the road to provide protection for the horses that will soon pull the carriages.
This state visit is different from the of Donald Trump, when the public were unable to catch a glimpse of the US President due to security concerns.
This time, police are expecting over 3,000 members of the public to line the streets and wave as the carriage procession passes by.
The public start queueing up to catch a glimpse of the royals (Image: Emily Ferguson)
Flags and road closures outside Windsor Castle (Image: Emily Ferguson)
Windsor Castle all set for the German guests
Windsor Castle is all ready to welcome German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, former judge Elke Budenbender.
After the pomp and pageantry this morning, the Germans will be treated to a glittering state banquet in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Hall, which this time will feature quite the backdrop.
The six-metre (19.6ft) Nordmann fir, which has been decorated for Christmas at Windsor Castle, has been illuminated with 3,000 lights and decked out in shimmering green and gold ornaments and stretches up to the vaulted ceiling, with garlands adorning the room’s balconies.
Some 160 guests will dine on a nearly 50-metre-long (164ft) mahogany table which runs the entire length of the hall. They will also be served a bespoke cocktail created specially for the occasion – a tradition started by the King.
The Christmas Tree in St George’s Hall (Image: Royal Collection Trust)
Restrictions in place in Windsor
Several roads will be closed between 9am and 3pm today, along with two taxi ranks in the town.
Airspace restrictions over Windsor are also in place today and tomorrow, along with other parts of east Berkshire, south Buckinghamshire and north Surrey.
Security isn’t as tight as Trump’s visit in September, which saw a wooden fence erected around the Castle.
Meghan’s Netflix show clash
The royal state visit isn’t the only thing happening today, as the special holiday episode of Meghan Markle’s Netflix show has just dropped on the streamer.
From Christmas crafts to festive feasts, the Duchess of Sussex’s holiday special is brimming with Christmas cheer. The hour-long episode, released on the streamer at 8am today, sees the former working royal embrace UK festive traditions and share sweet anecdotes about her two young children.
Team Sussex insists the date was set by Netflix and was in the diary way before the state visit was announced.
With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration has dropped on Netflix (Image: Netflix)
Third state visit this year
Typically, just two inbound state visits are held each year, but the monarch continues to keep busy despite his ongoing cancer treatment.
The Royal Family welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron in June, and US President Donald Trump in September.
State visits are usually held in the summer and winter, but Trump’s was squeezed in after he was invited to the UK by the UK Government.
Donald Trump was welcomed to Windsor in September (Image: Getty)
What’s happening today?
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender will arrive at Heathrow this morning, where they will be met by the Prince and Princess of Wales. They will then travel to Windsor to be officially welcomed by the King and Queen.
They will travel through the Berkshire town in a carriage procession, arriving at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle for a showcase of pomp and pageantry.
After a private lunch inside the Castle, the German couple will be treated to a special exhibition of Royal Collection Trust exhibits.
The guests will then travel to London, with President Steinmeier heading to Downing Street to meet Sir Keir Starmer.
Separately, Ms Büdenbender will visit the Judith Kerr Primary School in southeast London to meet pupils and celebrate the school’s connection to its namesake, the famous German-born British writer and illustrator who authored The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
The day will conclude with a white-tie and tiara dinner in the festively decorated St George’s Hall in Windsor.
Preparations are underway in Windsor
Windsor is preparing to host the German President and First Lady, who will arrive at the Berkshire town this afternoon.
Members of the Royal Family will be out in force today, as they display the soft power the Firm is famous for.
Preparations For German State Visit Windsor (Image: Getty)
The main action will start at midday (Image: Getty)
Good morning
Good morning, I’m in Windsor today covering the German state visit so I’ll be keeping you up-to-date with all the action as it happens. Don’t forget to get in touch on X at @emilyinpalace or by email: [email protected]
