The next chapters of the relationship between the United Kingdom and Germany should be filled with “the ceaseless pursuit of a better tomorrow,” according to King Charles.
It was the first time a British monarch had addressed the German parliament, and he received a standing ovation.
The Bundestag also erupted in hilarity when the King mentioned the Lionesses’ triumph at the Euros.
The second day of the King’s first overseas journey as monarch has passed.
He used the occasion to acknowledge the German people for their “extraordinary kindness” following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September of last year, stating that his family was “deeply moved.”
He also lauded the “vital leadership” demonstrated by Germany and the United Kingdom in assisting Ukraine.
Wednesday marked the beginning of his three-day tour of Germany with Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Due to pension reform protests in several towns, France was cancelled as the second stop.
The King was greeted with thunderous applause by the German Bundestag on Thursday morning for his historic speech, which was delivered primarily in German and praised his family’s connections to the country.
He praised the UK-Germany “unique bond” and wanted to “renew the bond of friendship between our nations.”
“Since I last spoke in this building,” the King said of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
It has resulted in the most ruthless trampling of freedom and human dignity, he told the chamber.
He stated that Europe’s security was threatened, but lauded the United Kingdom and Germany for their “decisive response” and “vital leadership.”
The King was addressing the home audience, but he appeared at ease and to be enjoying making his impression on his first overseas trip as head of state.
He made hilarious allusions to Kraftwerk, Monty Python, and the Beatles in his speech. We will never know if the King owned Kraftwerk albums or if it was a speechwriter searching Google.
The King noted that the first Shakespeare association was not founded in England, but in Weimar and that George Frideric Handel’s music would be performed at his coronation in May.
“The web of cultural connections is as robust as ever,” he said, adding that “we have laughed together – at each other and with each other – for the past 50 years.”
The King also joked about the Lionesses’ Euros win over Germany.
The conclusion of the speech alluded to the future of German-British relations. He stated, “It is our sacred duty to remember the lessons of the past.”
“In the lengthy and remarkable history of our nations, there are still many unwritten chapters. Fill them with the ceaseless pursuit of a better tomorrow.”
Also, well-received was the fact that the King addressed the sensitive issue of remembering Germans slain in allied air raids during the Second World War.
The visit reconciled differences and recast them as democratic European allies reacting to the Ukraine conflict.
The German president called Brexit a “sad day.” However, this visit seemed to imply that such obvious tensions would not stand in the way of long-term shared interests, which was the ultimate diplomatic purpose of this trip.
The King met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Berlin’s mayor Franziska Giffey before visiting a produce market.
British monarchs haven’t visited Germany since Queen Elizabeth II’s 2015 tour.
Wednesday, the King praised Germany’s “extraordinary hospitality” towards refugees from Ukraine.
During a state banquet conducted in his honor, he vowed to strengthen ties between the two nations.
Additionally, King Charles visited Ukrainian refugees who fled their homeland.
Although the King traveled throughout Berlin in his own Bentley, the palace stated that Bentley paid for its transportation.
Queen Consort and the wife of the German president met opera singers during a concert.
He will speak with representatives of a British-German military unit in Brandenburg before joining his wife at an organic farm.
