Kate Middleton in blue welcomes German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Heathrow together with William, kicking off the United Kingdom’s state visit with elegance and royal style.
The United Kingdom welcomed with great solemnity the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender, who arrived in London for a three-day state visit which marks a new chapter in relations between the two countries. Having landed at Heathrow, they were immediately received by the Prince and Princess of Wales, who accompanied them to Windsor for the meeting with King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The farewell scene at Windsor and Eton Riverside was particularly warm. Steinmeier in fact opened his arms towards the sovereign, enthusiastically recalling their previous meeting. From there, the royal delegation and their guests took part in a carriage procession through the streets of Windsorled by the Household Cavalry in full uniform. It is the first state visit by a German President to the UK for 27 years and comes at a time when London and Berlin are aiming to strengthen relations after the friction of Brexit.
Style and protocol, as always, played a central role. Kate Middleton chose a blue coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueencompleted with a matching hat and earrings that belonged to Diana. King Charles opted for a dark overcoat, while Camilla wore a sapphire blue ensemble, embellished with a brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria. The entire ceremony was accompanied by a 41-gun salute and British and German flags flying along the route.
The trip program will continue with a meeting in Downing Street with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and, in the evening, with an official banquet at Windsor Castle. In the following days Steinmeier will speak in Parliament, meet German Premier League footballers and visit Coventry together with the Duke of Kent, a symbolic site of the bombings of the Second World War. There will also be a tribute to Elizabeth II’s tomb, as well as a visit to the historic State Sleigh designed by Prince Albert.
A dense agenda, designed to strengthen the understanding between Germany and the United Kingdom through the tools of diplomacy, memory and ceremonial.
