King Charles addresses the German parliament, in a first for any British monarch, as part of a diplomatic offensive thought to be aimed at repairing the bonds fractured by Brexit.
Thursday 30 March 2023 16:13, UK
Read about the King's visit to Germany so far and his speech to parliament here.
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The Queen Consort and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's wife Elke Buedenbender meet opera singers from the Komische Opera Berlin, during the King and Queen's state visit to Germany.
People wait for the arrival of the King at the eco-village Brodowin, in Chorin, Germany.
Camilla, Queen Consort is pictured with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's wife Elke Buedenbender on a visit to a refugee centre in Berlin.
One photographer captured the King in fits of laughter with Berlin's mayor Franziska Giffey on his visit to a temporary accommodation centre for Ukrainian refugees in Berlin.
Germany has welcomed more than a million Ukrainian refugees seeking sanctuary after Russia invaded their homeland and the King has toured the Tegel Refugee Centre to meet some of the group.
Climate activists have used fire extinguishers full of paint to spray Hamburg town hall orange the day before the King is due to visit the city, according to the group.
Last Generation claimed responsibility for the stunt - which appears unrelated to the monarch - in a blog post on their website, calling on the mayor to lobby the federal government to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
The paint was a reminder to Mayor Peter Tschentscher to read a letter the group said they sent him on the subject, they wrote.
As we mentioned below, the King, Berlin's mayor Franziska Giffey and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have visited a temporary accommodation centre for Ukrainian refugees at a former airport, Tegel, in Berlin.
The monarch has now been spotted playing foosball...
We are now getting pictures through of the King visiting the Tegel Refugee Centre, in Berlin, where he is shaking hands with Ukrainian people housed there.
Germany has been one of the leading European countries in accepting refugees in recent years, along with Turkey, France and Spain.
The Lionesses' victory over Germany, the war in Ukraine and the memory of his mother were among the subjects covered by the King in his bilingual speech to the German parliament today.
In the first address any British monarch has made to the Bundestag, the King was on the diplomatic offensive - with notably no mention of Brexit.
Here are the key comments made by the monarch in his historic speech...
Shared Anglo-German history
A great reverence for Germany and its historical and cultural connections with the UK was at the forefront of the King's speech. The soft power of the monarchy was on display, with praise for the "profound" personal impact Germany has had on him.
Queen Elizabeth II
On the heels of Bärbel Bas offering her "great respect" for the late Queen, the King said the friendship between Germany and the UK "meant so much" to his mother. He thanked the German people for the "deep sympathies" they offered following her death.
Ukraine
He praised Germany's "very important" decision to provide military support to Ukraine and said he is encouraged by the unity shown when it comes to defending the country from Russia's invasion.
Football
In a light-hearted section of his speech, the King turned to the bitter rivalry between German and English football teams, pointing to the Lionesses' victory in the Euros. After getting a laugh for a joke comparing The Beatles to Brahms, King Charles said of the two nations: "We have laughed at each other and with each other."
Going green
The environment has long been an issue close to the King's heart, and he took the opportunity to praise Germany and the UK's "pioneering" joint research into cleaner energy like offshore wind and hydrogen.
This royal blogger thinks so...
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