BBC: King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales have welcomed the German president to the UK for a state visit.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender landed at Heathrow airport on Wednesday morning and will receive an elaborate ceremonial reception in Windsor, beginning with a carriage ride to the castle.
It is the first German state visit in 27 years.
Such state visits are about projecting soft power and building relationships, and the three-day visit will see a mix of pageantry, politics and culture.
Events for the president will include a state banquet, speaking in Parliament, meeting the PM in Downing Street and visiting German footballers who play in the Premier League.
German flags are flying along Windsor High Street and the visitors will be given a formal welcoming ceremony and will view a military parade on the manicured lawns inside Windsor Castle.
State visits are planned by the Foreign Office to cultivate diplomatic relations with important partners. » | Sean Coughlan, Royal correspondent, Windsor | Wednesday, December 3, 2025
