King Charles III move into European politics, praising Germany’s decision to reverse decades of defense policy by providing Ukraine with arms in a speech to German lawmakers.
Germany’s determination to supply such significant military support to the war-torn country, Ukraine is incredibly courageous, essential, and appreciated, Charles said in a speech to the lower house of parliament in Berlin.
Speaking to Bundestag lawmakers in German during his first state visit as monarch, he said Russia’s unprovoked attack had imposed the most unimaginable suffering on many innocent people.
Countless lives have been destroyed; freedom and human dignity have been trampled most brutally. The security of Europe has been threatened, as have our democratic values. Even as we abhor the appalling scenes of destruction, we can take heart from our unity in defense of Ukraine, of peace and freedom.”
King Charles said
As Prince of Wales, or monarch-in-waiting, Charles made no secret of his political advocacy, especially his want to fight climate change. Just six months into his monarchy and just over a month before his coronation on May 6, the British King had not yet signaled whether he would follow in his mother’s footsteps and eschew any public political views.
The monarch’s speech in Berlin, skipping between English and German, was the first time that a member of the royal family addressed the Bundestag when it was in session. King’s visit has been billed as a test of Britain’s soft diplomacy in rebuilding European relations.
King Charles, who earlier met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, marked the cultural relations and friendship between the two countries. He charmed German lawmakers with a few delicate jokes about the differences between the two nations.
Like many British people, I have close personal ties here. In my case, cherished family relationships and associations that go back generations. Of course, there are feuds in some regions, particularly in our encounters on the football pitch. We have laughed at each other and with each other.”
King Charles said
He included references to Monty Python’s popularity in Germany and Dinner for One — a 1963 black-and-white British TV sketch which, while virtually unknown in the UK, has been at the heart of the German New Year’s Eve ritual since 1972.
Bundestag President Barbel Bas invited King Charles and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, to consider the first volume of the Bundestag’s Golden Book of illustrious visitors, which was signed by Charles’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Charles thanked the German people for their messages of support following her death, saying that Her late majesty won a particular place of affection among the German people.
Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender greeted the British royal couple on Wednesday with military honors at the Branden-burg Gate in Berlin, to cheering crowds. There has been across-the-board interest in Germany in the royal visit, with news reaching the front page of many newspapers.
Steinmeier addressed the issue of Brexit in his speech at a state banquet on Wednesday evening, which he noted marked six years to the day since the UK submitted its letter notifying the EU of its intention to leave. He said that had been a “sad day for him and many other Germans.
Back then many feared that Brexit could make the Germans and the British drift apart. However, this did not happen. Too strong are the ties between our countries, too close the friendships between our people, too precious the reconciliation efforts after two world wars.”
Steinmeier said
On Friday, the king will visit a memorial in Hamburg to the Kinder-transport, the railway evacuation of Jewish refugee children to safety in the UK in the run-up to World War II.
