royal visit hamburg

State visit to Germany: Queen Consort wears Queen Victoria’s poignant wedding day brooch to end historic trip

By Stephanie Bridger-Linning

State visit to Germany: The Queen Consort wears Queen Victoria's brooch in Hamburg

King Charles III and the Queen Consort have bid farewell to Germany, bringing to an end the first state visit of their reign. Following a busy two days in Berlin, the royal couple arrived in Hamburg on Friday where they carried out a whirlwind schedule of engagements. 

Camilla, the Queen Consort wore the spectacular Greville Tiara for the state banquet at Bellevue Palace

It started with a poignant moment of reflection at the Kindertransport Memorial. To mark the 85th anniversary of the first Kindertransporte, the King and Queen Consort heard from the British Honorary Consul, a second-generation survivor, and the Chair of the Kindertransporte Organisation Germany, about the remarkable UK-led rescue mission in 1938 to save 10,000 children by granting them entry to the UK. Later, the couple visited the St. Nikolai Memorial, the remains of a church which was destroyed when the Allies bombed the city during the Second World War. His Majesty and the President laid wreaths during a short ceremony of remembrance. 

The King and Queen Consort at the farewell reception in Hamburg

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By Chandler Tregaskes

The King and Queen Consort were given a formal welcome by the Mayor of Hamburg. The King learned more about the port of Hamburg’s adoption of green technologies, while Camilla visited a local elementary school. The day ended with a celebratory reception with Hamburg residents and members of the local British community, accompanied by the President and Frau Büdenbender, marking the close of their state visit. 

This week in 1959, Princess Dorothea of Hesse was married to Prince Friedrich of Windisch-Graetz in a German royal wedding

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The Queen Consort was typically polished in a navy blue outfit by Anna Valentine but all eyes were on her dramatic choice of brooch: a sapphire and diamond creation that was a wedding gift from Prince Albert to his bride, Queen Victoria. Albert was known for his creative flair and delighted in commissioning jewels for his bride to wear. On this occasion, the brooch was crafted by Garrard. It was so loved by Queen Victoria that she chose to wear it on her wedding day – and regularly donned the accessory in the years that followed. It was often worn by Queen Elizabeth II on daytime engagements, The Court Jeweller notes.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort at the Bundestag on Thursday

The state visit to Germany was designed to emphasise and strengthen the bond between the UK and her European neighbour in the post-Brexit era. The honour of hosting the King and Queen’s first state visit of their reign had been due to fall to France, but this portion of the itinerary was delayed due to the ongoing anti-pension reform protests gripping the country. 

South African businessman Michael Lewis, who wed Lady Kitty Spencer in 2021, can be seen in the background of Lady Eliza’s photo

The three-day trip started on Wednesday afternoon. Stepping off the plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, the Queen Consort looked elegant in a blue coat designed by Bruce Oldfield (who has made her coronation dress), which she paired with a hat by trusted royal milliner Philip Treacy. The King and Queen were honoured with a 21-gun salute and military fly-past before being given a ceremonial welcome by President Steinmeier and Frau Büdenbender at the Brandenburg Gate. 

The foursome posed for photographs and were treated to renditions of both the German and British national anthems before King Charles and President Steinmeier inspected the troops. 

The Queen Consort on a visit to a market on Thursday

The King and Queen Consort on the visit on Thursday morning

The next stop was Schloss Bellevue where Charles and Camilla were once again greeted by President Steinmeier and Ms Büdenbender. Their Majesties signed the Golden Book and the president delivered an address hailing the start of a ‘new chapter’. ‘Today, on the day six years ago when Britain began its exit from the European Union, we are opening a new chapter in our relations,’ the German president said, according to BBC News . King Charles joined the president in planting a tree and attended a sustainability reception at the official residence. 

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones is the most prominent member of the Royal Family you’ve never met. Rediscover her exclusive interview from the May 2023 issue of Tatler on her 22nd birthday

By Catherine Ostler

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomes King Charles III at the Chancellery

The day ended on a glittering note with a state banquet at Bellevue Palace. Elegantly attired in an embroidered black dress by favourite designer Bruce Oldfield, Camilla complemented the garment’s intricate, foliage-inspired silver thread-work with show-stopping diamonds. In a nod to her late mother-in-law, the Queen Consort opted for the City of London Fringe Necklace, which was gifted to the then Princess Elizabeth on her wedding in 1947. The Queen Consort also added a pair of diamond earrings and wore the Garter Star, the Grand Cross (Special Class) of the Federal Order of Merit (given to her today by the German president), and the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Painted in oils by artist Alastair Barford, the portrait is the first of King Charles since the start of his reign

King Charles and the Queen Consort

King Charles at the state banquet

The crowning moment of the look was the diamond diadem, which once belonged to King Charles’s beloved grandmother the   Queen Mother, who died 21 years ago today . The Greville Tiara , also known as the Boucheron Honeycomb Tiara, was made by the royal-approved jeweller for Dame Margaret Greville, an early 20th century society swan and philanthropist who was a close friend of Queen Mary, wife of King George V . King Charles delivered a speech which echoed the sentiments of today’s address.

Tuesday started with a meeting between the King and Chancellor Scholz at the Federal Chancellery building. He and Camilla then visited Wittenbergplaztz Food Market where they met local officials and business owners and learned about the history of the market.

First Lady Elke Büdenbender, the Queen Consort, King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Brandenburg Gate 

The King became the first member of the Royal Family to address the Bundestag. He delivered a speech in which he celebrated the deep historical bonds and longstanding links between Germany and the UK. ‘Today, it gives me particular pride to be with you once again, now as King, and to renew the special bond between our two countries,’ he said. ‘This friendship meant so much to my beloved Mother, the late Queen, who often spoke of the 15 official visits she made to Germany, including her five state visits.

‘The first of those, in 1965, came when our continent was still deeply scarred by war, and the trauma of conflict. Hers was the wartime generation, and like my father, the Queen had served in uniform. That my parents’ 11-day tour of Germany should prove to be a pivotal moment in the reconciliation between our nations was, therefore, a matter of great personal significance to them both.

‘I can hardly begin to express the pride I feel in the strength of the partnership between our two countries. Germany, her people and distinctive culture have made such a profound impact on me over so many of my previous visits.  Since I first came to Germany when I was just 13 years old, I have grown to become familiar with the different corners of this remarkable land.’ 

The Queen Consort looked elegant in a blue coat designed by Bruce Oldfield

Following the visit to the German Bundestag, the whirlwind schedule continued with a visit by the King to Tegel Refugee Centre where he was shown around by organisations that are supporting vulnerable refugees. Meanwhile, the Queen Consort learned about the work of Refugio House community centre – a meeting place for locals and new Berlin residents, including refugees. Later, the King visited a Joint Military Unit at Finowfurt before ending the day with an outing to Brodowin Farm, a flagship organic farm. 

The state visit to Germany marks the King’s 29th official visit to the country. Her Majesty has undertaken three official visits to Germany. Their Majesties last visited Berlin in 2020.

King Charles III and the Queen Consort arrive in Germany

By Isaac Bickerstaff

By Harriet Johnston

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Charles III commorates WWII dead, child refugees in Hamburg

The UK’s King Charles III boarded a train on Friday for the final leg of his three-day visit to Germany that will take him and Camilla, the queen consort, to the northern port city of Hamburg. (Mar. 31)

Britain’s King Charles III arrives to lay a wreath of flowers at St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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Britain’s King Charles III, center, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, lay a wreath of flowers at St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Britain’s King Charles III, with Camilla, the Queen Consort board a train on their way to Hamburg from a train station in Berlin, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, Pool)

King Charles III of Great Britain, right, leaves the Brodowin ecovillage in the rain, Germany, Thursday, March 30, 2023. A heavy thunderstorm with lightning and thunder upset the strict protocol of the royal visit to the in Brandenburg. (Jens Buettner/DPA via AP, Pool)

A Royal fan carries a gingerbread heart with the inscription “King Charles III & Camila” and waits in the rain at the Rathausmarkt in front of Hamburg City Hall for the arrival of the British royals, Friday, March 31, 2023 . At the end of their three-day trip to Germany, Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort visit the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

King Charles III of Great Britain, right, looks at a cake made especially for his visit in the Brodowin eco-village Germany, Thursday, March 30, 2023. A heavy thunderstorm with lightning and thunder upset the strict protocol of the royal visit to the in Brandenburg. (Jens Buettner/DPA via AP, Pool)

Royal fans hold a banner in the colors of the British and Ukrainian national flags and the inscription “Thanks for support” and wait in the rain at the Rathausmarkt in front of Hamburg City Hall for the arrival arrival of the British royals, Friday, March 31, 2023 . At the end of their three-day trip to Germany, Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort visit the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. (Marcus Brandt/dpa via AP)

Britain’s King Charles III waves from a balcony of the city hall in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Gregor Fischer)

King Charles III of Great Britain and Royal Consort Camilla stand at Hamburg City Hall, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. ( Georg Wendt/dpa via AP)

People line up in front of the city hall as they wait for arrival of Britain’s King Charles III, with Camilla, the Queen Consort, in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Gregor Fischer)

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left, watches as Britain’s King Charles III, with Camilla, the Queen Consort, waves from a balcony of the city hall in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Gregor Fischer)

Britain’s King Charles III and Camilla Queen Consort driving through the streets in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. (Daniel Reinhardt/dpa via AP)

Britain’s King Charles III and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, front, lay a wreath of flowers at St. Nikolai Memorial in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Britain’s King Charles III visits to the memorial “Kindertransport - Der letzte Abschied” (Children’s Transport - The Last Farewell) at Dammtor station in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. The bronze sculpture commemorates predominantly Jewish children who were sent to Great Britain during the Nazi era and mostly never saw their relatives who stayed behind again. (Jens Buettner/dpa via AP)

BERLIN (AP) — King Charles III commemorated the more than 30,000 people, mostly German civilians, who were killed in the Allied bombing of Hamburg almost 80 years ago as he visited the northern city Friday on the last leg of his first foreign trip since becoming monarch.

The attack in July 1943 carried out by British and American planes using incendiary bombs was a response to Nazi Germany’s deadly aerial raids on Britain. It resulted in a firestorm which destroyed large parts of the city and remains a painful memory in the Hanseatic port’s proud history.

Charles laid a wreath at the ruined church of St. Nikolai, now a memorial site, and listened to Hamburg’s Bishop Kirsten Fehrs read the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation, written to commemorate the destruction of the English city of Coventry by German bombers in 1940.

Earlier, Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, visited a memorial to the Kindertransporte, or children’s transports, that saw more than 10,000 Jewish children receive refuge from Nazi Germany in the U.K. in 1938.

The royal couple were accompanied to Hamburg by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, making the two-hour journey from Berlin by high-speed train.

The couple landed in the German capital on Wednesday, where Steinmeier greeted them at the Brandenburg Gate with full military honors and later hosted a banquet in their honor.

On Thursday, Charles became the first monarch to address the German parliament , telling assembled lawmakers that “together we must strive for the security, prosperity and well-being that our people deserve.” He then met with Ukrainian refugees and a German-British military unit before visiting an organic farm where he tried his hand at making cheese .

Charles’ trip is part of a carefully calibrated effort by the U.K. government to mend frayed ties with its continental partners after Brexit.

Charles originally planned to visit France first, but anti-government protests in the country led both governments to postpone that part of his trip. The new itinerary put the focus on Germany, where Charles has family roots and the royals have long been the subject of fascination.

Despite persistent drizzle, well-wishers waited patiently to greet Charles and Camilla at their stops in Hamburg, a city that sees itself as having a particularly close connection to Britain due to its long seafaring and trading ties.

A boat trip and a farewell reception involving musical performances, including by a Beatles cover band and a sea shanty group, will round off the king’s visit.

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King Charles Will Travel to Germany for First Visit as Monarch

Charles is set to begin his trip on Wednesday. He had planned to start the royal tour in France, but that leg was canceled because of the country’s ongoing protests.

By Jenny Gross

LONDON — King Charles III of Britain will travel to Germany on Wednesday for his first trip abroad as monarch, after strikes and protests in France led to the cancellation of his planned state visit there.

During a three-day visit to Berlin and Hamburg, the king and his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, will attend a state banquet, hosted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Büdenbender, at Bellevue Palace, Germany’s presidential residence, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace.

On Thursday, Charles will address Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, and will then meet with refugees who have recently arrived from Ukraine. On Friday, Charles and Camilla will take the train to Hamburg, where they will visit a monument commemorating Kindertransport, the effort from 1938 and 1940 that brought about 10,000 Jewish children to safety in Britain from Nazi Germany.

The cancellation of the France leg of the trip represented an uncomfortable moment for the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who had been scheduled to receive the king and queen consort in Paris on Sunday.

The king’s visit to France would have involved a lavish state banquet at the Palace of Versailles, a move that would have been particularly ill-timed for Mr. Macron, who is facing strikes, demonstrations and potentially violent protests over his plan to raise the legal retirement age to 64 from 62. Mr. Macron said last week that it would have been a mistake to host a state visit “in the middle of demonstrations.” He said Britain and France would work on organizing a new visit in the early summer.

In traveling to Germany, the biggest economy in Europe, for his first royal visit, Charles is emphasizing Britain’s intention to strengthen ties with the European Union after Britain’s exit from the bloc caused diplomatic ties to fray.

The British royal family has a long history of strong ties to Germany. George I, who ruled from 1714 to 1727, was originally from Hanover, in what would become Germany. He succeeded Queen Anne, his second cousin, who died childless. (Her closer family members were barred from the British throne because they were Roman Catholic .)

In 1917, King George V formed the House of Windsor, renouncing the German name of the royal house, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, as anti-German sentiment grew during World War I. That name had come into the family in 1840 with the marriage of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert, whose father was the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Charles last addressed the Bundestag during the throes of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when he was still prince, and began his speech in German . He was most recently in Hamburg in 1995 for a ceremony commemorating the end of World War II.

Christopher F. Schuetze contributed reporting from Berlin.

Jenny Gross is a general assignment reporter. Before joining The Times, she covered British politics for The Wall Street Journal. More about Jenny Gross

King Charles grins as he pulls a pint of beer during visit to Hamburg

The King and Queen Consort have wrapped up a three-day visit to Germany which saw the monarch try his hand at making organic cheese, tuck into a giant cake made in the shape of a crown and pull a pint of beer.

Friday 31 March 2023 19:01, UK

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For Hamburg, devastated by allied bombing, King Charles’s visit is so much more than a photo-op

UK-German relations are long and complicated, and not all symbolism is empty

K ing Charles III will not only travel to Berlin during his state visit to Germany this week, but also Hamburg, the country’s second largest city and home to its biggest port. Hamburg is a trading hub known for its anglophilia, with close connections to Great Britain that go back centuries that were revived during the British occupation of the city after the second world war, when the former enemy quickly turned into a close partner.

When you take the long view at UK-German relations, this part of the king’s trip is at least as important and meaningful as his appointments in the German capital. Those who criticise royal visits as constituting little more than expensive photo-ops fail to understand that not all symbolism is empty.

On Friday, the king will visit St Nikolai church in the centre of Hamburg and lay a wreath there with the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The symbolic importance of this ceremony can hardly be overstated. The church is a landmark of the city dating back to the middle ages. After a fire in 1842, it was rebuilt by the English architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, who also built the Albert Memorial and the Foreign Office in London. In the otherwise very close, historic relationship between Hamburg and Great Britain, St Nikolai is a reminder of their darkest moment. During the devastating bombing of Hamburg in July 1943 by allied forces, the church was damaged beyond repair.

This attack, code-named Operation Gomorrah in reference to the biblical story of Genesis, when God decided to punish the sinners of Gomorrah by making it rain fire from the sky, is to this day etched into Hamburg’s collective memory under a different name: “the fire storm”.

Between 25 July and 3 August 1943, the Royal Air Force flew a series of four night raids against Hamburg as part of its wider strategy of “area bombing” German cities. The aim was to demoralise the working-class part of the population, to cripple the armaments industry that was central to the German war effort, and to bring civilian life to a halt. The US air force joined the attack with two daylight air raids mainly against targets in the harbour. The greatest damage was not done by the bombs themselves, but the conflagration they caused on the ground.

According to conservative estimates, at least 34,000 people died during this short series of attacks. Hamburg was largely reduced to rubble and nearly a million people fled the city. Among the victims of the attacks were thousands of forced labourers from central and eastern Europe who had been deported by the Nazis to Hamburg for work and who, like the remaining Jews in the city, were not allowed to take cover in the air raid shelters. After the attack, entire districts of Hamburg were walled off and declared as “death zones”. The Nazis then forced inmates of the nearby Neuengamme concentration camp to find and defuse unexploded bombs, clear the rubble, and remove and bury the dead bodies. Hundreds of them died during this extremely dangerous and traumatic mission.

It is impossible to study the eyewitness reports from the summer of 1943 without feeling a sense of horror. But it would be deeply irresponsible to forget the context in which the attacks took place. This is why the ruin of St Nikolai is today a memorial not only to those who suffered in Hamburg in 1943, but to all victims of the war Germany started and fought with brutal disregard for civilian life, exterminating vast parts of the Jewish population in Europe and bombing cities such as Warsaw, London or Coventry without mercy.

The exhibition situated in the vault of St Nikolai explains this context, as well as the strategy of the Royal Air Force leadership under Air Marshal Arthur Harris, who hoped that area bombing would make a decisive difference towards winning the war – a victory that was anything but certain in 1943. It also includes testimonies from some of the British airmen on duty, many of whom feared for their own lives during the mission. The pilots and aircrew bombing German cities ran an extremely high risk of being shot down or crashing. More than 55,000 of them died during the war. King Charles has been involved in furthering UK-German reconciliation for decades, as was his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. During his last visit to Hamburg, as Prince of Wales in 1995, he visited the mass grave at Ohlsdorf cemetery, where thousands of the victims of Operation Gomorrah are buried.

This time, the King will come in his new role as head of state, in a year that marks the 80th anniversary of a specific allied attack against Hamburg. The visit shows that the war is now so firmly in the past, and the relationship between Britain and Germany so close, that the King and the German president can afford to rise above the political controversies that have complicated the remembrance of the bombing campaigns in both countries for decades.

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In the UK, the strategy of area bombing has been criticised from its inception, especially in church circles, while its supporters argued that it was necessary to weaken an exceedingly dangerous enemy. In Germany, the political far right has repeatedly tried to capture and weaponise the memory of the air war in a transparent and revolting attempt to weigh the suffering of civilians against Nazi Germany’s guilt for the war and the Holocaust.

It takes courage to remember. Facing up to historic reality in all its painful complexity is not the same as attributing blame or seeking absolution. To explain and understand is not to excuse or condemn. When you enter St Nikolai today, the first thing you see is a Cross of Nails, a gift from Coventry Cathedral, together with a plaque from the citizens of Hamburg, remembering the dead and emphasising that they “do not forget the harm caused by their own madness”. For the king to join in this remembrance is a very significant, and much appreciated thing to do. At a time when many politicians all over the world like to pick and choose from history with the sole aim of suiting their narratives, it matters.

This article was amended on 30 March 2023 to remove a reference to the bombing of Guernica which happened in 1937 before the start of the second world war.

Helene von Bismarck is a historian specialised in UK-German relations. She lives in Hamburg.

• King Charles III
• Second world war

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Charles pays tribute to WWII victims on first trip to Germany as King

• Friday 31 March 2023 at 10:33pm

King Charles and Germany's President paid tribute to World War Two victims in a poignant show of unity as ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship reports live from Hamburg

King Charles III and The Queen Consort paid tribute to those who lost their lives during World War Two, on the third day of their state visit to Germany, on Friday.

In the ruins of a bombed destroyed Hamburg church, devastated like much of the city by Second World War Allied raids, the King and Germany's president stood motionless after leaving floral tributes.

The King stood shoulder to shoulder with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in a poignant symbol of reconciliation. The wreath laying at the remains of St. Nikolai Memorial Church was commemorate more than 30,000 people, mostly German civilians, who were killed in Operation Gomorrah, the Allied bombing of Hamburg in July 1943.

Its towering spire was a landmark used by bomber crews as they targeted the city port, but the sacred space has now become a monument against war.

Charles and Camilla sped into Hamburg on a high-speed train for the third day of his first visit to abroad as King.

The pair originally planned to visit France first, but after  violent protests erupted in the country, both governments decided to postpone that part of the trip.

Their new itinerary put the focus on Germany , where Charles has family roots.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took the royal couple to Hamburg's Rathaus - the town hall - where they met dignitaries and waved to crowds who were waiting in the rain for a glimpse of The King. They also visited a memorial to the Kindertransport, or children’s transport, a scheme which helped more than 10,000 Jewish children flee to the UK from Nazi Germany 85 years ago.

A boat trip and a farewell reception with music from a Beatles cover band and a sea shanty group, will round off the King's stay in Hamburg.

The couple's visit started on Wednesday, when they landed in Berlin for Charles' first foreign trip as monarch.

Why the King and Queen's historic visit to Germany matters to Britain

President Steinmeier greeted them at the Brandenburg Gate with full military honours and later hosted a banquet.

On Thursday, Charles became the first monarch to address the German parliament, telling assembled politicians that "together we must strive for the security, prosperity and well-being that our people deserve.”

He then met with Ukrainian refugees and a German-British military unit, before visiting an organic farm where he tried his hand at making cheese.

Charles' trip is part of a push by the British government to mend frayed ties with Europe after Brexit.

Listen to the ITV News Royal Rota podcast

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King and Queen announce destination for ‘historic’ first royal tour

Charles and camilla will travel to paris and continue onwards to berlin during the visit, article bookmarked.

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The King and Queen Consort will make their first state visits to France and Germany in a six-day trip at the end of this month, Buckingham Palace announced.

The King will be the first British monarch to give a speech from France’s senate chamber, to senators and national assembly members.

Charles and Camilla will travel to the French capital Paris on 26 March and then continue onwards to Berlin in Germany during the six-day visit.

The Europe-centred visit comes just days after the King welcomed EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to Windsor Castle after she agreed to a historic post-Brexit deal for Northern Ireland.

There are a number of firsts, reflecting what is believed to be the wish of the host countries to mark the historic trip of the nation's new head of state.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The visit will celebrate Britain’s relationship with France and Germany, marking our shared histories, culture and values.

“It will also provide an opportunity to look forwards and demonstrate the many ways the UK is working in partnership with France and Germany, whether that be to tackle climate change; respond to the conflict in Ukraine; seize trade and investment opportunities or share the best of our arts and culture.”

While in France, the King and Queen Consort will split their time between Paris and Bordeaux.

Their majesties will join French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte for a wreath-laying ceremony at Arc de Triomphe before the King addresses senators and members of the National Assembly at the French senate.

It is still being decided whether the monarch will address the chamber in French as his late mother did in previous visits.

Their majesties will be guests of honour at a State Banquet hosted by president and Mrs Macron at the Chateau de Versailles.

Bordeaux, home to the largest number of British residents in France, will also receive the King and Queen where their majesties will mark the opening of the new British embassy and meet members of the local French and British communities.

It is understood that the King will visit a location in south Bordeaux scorched by devastating wildfires last year, and will meet firefighters and emergency workers as well as meet residents impacted by the incident.

The royal couple will also tour an organic vineyard, which has pioneered a sustainable approach to wine making, including generating its own solar energy and capturing and converting the carbon dioxide it produces.

The King and Queen Consort will arrive in Germany on Wednesday 29 March to a ceremonial welcome from president Steinmeier and Frau Budenbender at the Brandenburg Gate.

Their majesties will be guests of honour at a State Banquet, given by the president and his wife at the Schloss Bellevue. They will later visit the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, where His Majesty will address the House - a first for a British monarch.

His Majesty will meet refugees recently arrived from Ukraine and hear about the support Germany provides for them.

On the anniversary of the war in Ukraine, King Charles praised the “remarkable courage and resilience” of the Ukrainian people, saying that they had “suffered unimaginably”.

During the trip, their majesties will also visit Hamburg accompanied by the president and Frau Büdenbender, where they will take a moment of reflection as they attend the St. Nikolai Memorial - the remains of a church which was destroyed when the Allies bombed Hamburg during the Second World War.

In a poignant gesture, His Majesty and the president will lay wreaths during a short ceremony of remembrance.

The King and Queen Consort end their visit with a celebratory reception with Hamburg residents and members of the local British community, accompanied by the President and Frau Büdenbender.

The announcement of the state visit comes days after Prince Harry and Meghan confirmed that they’ve been asked to leave their UK home, Frogmore Cottage.

It was reported that King Charles III offered the keys to the cottage to the Duke of York . Reports have also said that Harry and Meghan are making plans to remove their remaining belongings from the home.

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Royal Visit to Hamburg: What Prince Albert and Charlène are planning in the Hanseatic City

This time Prince Albert and Princess Charlène of Monaco are not on the headlines because of rumors about their marriage, but because of a visit to Germany. In Hamburg’s memory city, the Royals can admire their home in miniature format and want to visit a party.

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Prince Albert and Charlene opened the new Monaco World at Miniatur Wunderland

On April 25, 2024, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, together with their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, attended the opening of the new Monaco World at Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg. Miniatur Wunderland (miniature wonderland) is a model railway and miniature museum, and represents many places around the world.

The new miniature version of Monaco includes detailed replicas of iconic landmarks such as the Marina, the Prince’s Palace, the Casino, and other buildings around the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Work on the Monaco / Provence section started in August 2019 and, when completed, will add another 315 meters.

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18 comments.

(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)

Beautiful children! Their looking after Charlene. -Anna-

Better: take after -Anna-

De beaux enfants Froufrou

On picture 8 & 9 Princess Gabriella is the spitting image of her auntie Stephanie when she was a young girl. There is just a difference in the color of their hair. Prince Jacques looks more like his mother before she married Prince Albert and before she had cosmetic surgery.

What an impressive miniature model.tThe children look just as fascinated. I see Gabriella looking more like her paternal grandmother the older she’s getting. Jacques has a look of his mom. Princess Charlene looks beautiful. I love the white coat,and she has the height to wear it. Lowri

Agree about the children. Jacques definitely resembles his mother while Gabriella looks like Princess Grace ( and her older cousin Camille Gottleib) Lovely children AnnieM

For the first time, I see a facial resemblance between Princess Gabriella and her Grandmother, Princess Grace. And Jacques to me has always resembled his Grandfather, Prince Rainier. Beautiful children.

The first photo is very disappointing, an older lady is giving the children a simple gift and the faces of the children and parent show hesitancy and even revulsion, a smile and a thank you go a long way, even if the gifts are discarded afterwards, no grace at all, Gemare

How do you imagine so much about a photo that captures a fraction of a second? You have a wild imagination! Unless you were there to see and hear everything about the exchange, please don't slander these children. You also forgot to finish your comment. We don't know what you thought about the fashion.

Are you trying to tell us you have the six sense? I'm dumbfounded who some people think they know what people think, feel or say based on a photo.

the video tells a different story; the kids and Charlene smile and say thank you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOI7fcbX9ls

Thanks for the link @anon 08:54. I think there is a security issue involved here also. Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were wise to let their mother take the gift. There are some pretty “weird” people out there who will get up to any type of tricks to harm other people and/or children. I’m sure this wasn't the case and it was being done in good faith. Unfortunately the Dutch royal family have been having problems with death threats and other menaces towards their daughter Princess Amalia.

Thank you for the video link @anon 27/4/24 08:54.

That’s a gorgeous coat on Charlene. The half belt at the back is a clever detail, drawing in the volume slightly. (V.M.)

Quel superbe manteau avec une ceinture dans le dos qui apporte de l'allure à Charlène !

J'aime bien ce manteau dont la martingale apporte de l’élégance à Charlène !

What fun for the children to see Monaco in Miniature. The children look great and so does their parents. Hope is was a successful visit to Hamburg Germany css

What an awesome family and beautiful children! Wish them all well and happiness!

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Cruise to Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in hamburg.

Gain a New Perspective

Frontal view of the town hall in Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg has more museums than almost any other city in Europe, but the best way to gain an education is by visiting the historical sights themselves. Visit the Rathaus City Hall, with a 19th-century facade making for a perfect backdrop for selfies. Then, ascend the steps of the baroque Church of St. Michael to enjoy a panorama from 432 feet in the air.

Venice of the North

A boat traveling through a canal in the famous Speicherstadt warehouse district in Hamburg, Germany

Did you know Hamburg has more canals than Venice? A Hamburg harbor boat trip is one of the most exciting things to do here. Cruise through the historical warehouses along the Speicherstadt canal for a breathtaking experience.

Toast the World

Your Hamburg cruise probably won't stop in the middle of the night, but you can still appreciate the fun of the Sankt Pauli nightlife district. Many of its bars are open during daytime hours. Want to learn about the roots of the local brew? Check out Groninger Privatbrauerei, a baroque building where they brew a much-loved Pils.

Local Cuisine

Food in Hamburg has nothing to do with what you know as hamburgers. Herring is the most common fish here — it's served marinated in vinegar and fried as Brathering , a popular choice for lunch or dinner. Hamburger Hummersuppe , on the other hand, is a creamy lobster-based soup, while Hamburg sweets include sugary Franzbrotchen pastry and Hamburger Speck candies.

In addition to being cosmpolitan and chic, Moenckebergstrasse is Hamburg's most iconic shopping street. Stop in at the aptly named Art of Hamburg near the harbour to find forward-thinking fashions and handcrafted bags and other accessories during your Germany cruise. Take a trip back in time at Walter Eisenberg der Mutzenmacher, a classic hat shop, or take home an ornate beer stein.

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Kate Middleton Style Blog

A FASHION BLOG CHRONICLING KATE MIDDLETON—The Princess of Wales's— STYLE

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Kate looks lovely in lavender for her final day in Germany

On the 21st of July 2017, William and Kate visited Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city. The visit took place during the couple’s Royal Visit to Poland and Germany .  Hamburg has strong links to the UK that date back to the 13th century.   Below, Councillor Wolfgang Schmidt greets the Royal Couple at Hamburg’s Dammtor station:

The first port of call was the Maritime Museum on the bank of the river Elbe.  

The visit celebrated the joint UK-German year of science, which this year is focused on oceans.  

As you may recall, this is a particular area of interest for the Duchess.   A week prior , Kate spoke about marine conservation at a reception hosted by the Natural History Museum.

Next, William and Kate travelled to the Elbphilharmonie, one of the world’s largest and most acoustically advanced concert halls.

The couple  joined the orchestra on stage, before listening to a special performance by the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra.  

Next, William and Kate took a boat down the River Elbe. 

There was time for a quick walkabout.  William and Kate said hello to the waiting crowds:

The couple’s final engagement of the tour took place at Hamburg’s Airbus headquarters.

The couple toured the Airbus headquarters and went to see the final assembly of an A320 aircraft.

George and Charlotte joined their parents on the tarmac at the Airbus headquarters.  It was time to head home!

The family then departed from Germany.

Kate’s outfit:

Kate chose London-based designer Emilia Wickstead for her final outfit of the tour.

The dress features long sleeves, a knee-length flared skirt and waistband detailing.  It is a vivid purple colour, which Wickstead appears to have used in her Autumn/Winter 2015 ready-to-wear collection .

UPDATE:  The dress is now available to buy in pink, red or blue at MatchesFashion.com .

Kate wore her  Gianvito Rossi ‘105’ pumps in Praline.  The shoes are made from suede leather and hand-finished in Italy. They have a pointed toe and slim heel. 

Kate owns the pumps in three other colours, plus she owns another pair in this colour with a lower heel.  You can find out more about the shoe, and see more pictures of Kate wearing it, on this page .

Kate chose her amethyst earrings by Kiki McDonough.  They’re the designer’s Lavender Amethyst Pear and Oval Drop Earrings.   Kate first wore them in Bhutan, in April 2016 .

The pear drop earrings are made from 13ct white gold and amethyst stones.  They cost £3,900 (approximately $5,033 USD).

Kate’s carrying a new clutch today.  It’s a past season piece by  Anya Hindmarch .

The black version of the bag was for available at TheRealReal , an online consignment store (meaning it was pre-owned).  It was described as being made from snakeskin fabric with gold-tone hardware, tonal stitching and black suede lining.  It had a single pocket at the interior wall and push-lock closure at top.

Dress like a Duchess in Emilia Wickstead:

Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito 105’ pumps in Praline Suede

Emilia Wickstead Kate Dress

About Carly W

Thanks for stopping by! My name is Carly and I've been writing Kate Middleton Style Blog for 11 years! You can read more about me and my site on this page .

July 21, 2017 at 4:12 pm

Awesome trip. Love the outfits of all of you! Marine Conservation is an emergency! XOXOXOXOXO

July 22, 2017 at 10:21 pm

She was such a jewel this tour and this outfit just capped it all off. The Kiki earrings here were I think what made it for me.

And now I just want her to grow her hair long again. 😀 what can I say, long hair is romantic and classic princess to me.

She’s getting raves for “updating” her wardrobe but I don’t know if I’m really feeling it. I like it but I also feel like she might veer too much into being “modern.” My favorite day on this tour was Heidelberg. That sunny dress with the full skirt.

Thanks for all the updates, Carly! You were super fast!

August 22, 2017 at 3:37 am

God bless your family and thank you for sharing your happy family♥️❤️

Kate Middleton’s Handbags

Kate Middleton’s Boots:

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