King Charles praises Ukraine support on state visit to Germany

King Charles III has paid tribute to Germany's "extraordinary hospitality" towards Ukrainian refugees during his archetypal authorities sojourn arsenic monarch.

The King said some the UK and Germany "stand together" with Ukraine successful "defence of state and sovereignty".

In his toast astatine a lavish authorities banquet, which helium delivered partially successful German, the King promised to fortify ties.

The code was delivered to dignitaries from some countries, including erstwhile German chancellor Angela Merkel.

The King's three-day circuit with Camilla, the Queen Consort, comes aft a planned sojourn to France was cancelled pursuing unrest successful respective cities implicit pension reforms.

Germany, owed to beryllium the 2nd halt connected the trip, is alternatively the determination of King Charles' archetypal overseas sojourn of his reign - and the archetypal of a British monarch since the precocious Queen Elizabeth II's ain authorities sojourn determination successful 2015.

The British authorities hopes the King's sojourn volition reenforce relations betwixt the 2 nations pursuing the UK's determination to permission the EU - described arsenic a "sad day" by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier successful his ain toast.

At the President's Bellevue Palace connected Wednesday evening, the King said helium would bash everything helium could to "strengthen the connections betwixt us".

He besides heaped praise connected the "generosity of tone of the German people" for taking successful much than 1 cardinal Ukrainian refugees displaced arsenic a effect of the ongoing struggle with Russia.

"We basal side-by-side successful protecting and advancing our shared antiauthoritarian values," helium said.

"This is epitomised truthful intelligibly contiguous arsenic we basal unneurotic with Ukraine successful defence of state and sovereignty successful the look of unprovoked aggression."

The King besides spoke astir the combat against clime change, adding: "I americium utterly convinced that the connections betwixt america volition turn ever stronger as, together, we prosecute a much sustainable, prosperous and unafraid future."

He besides mentioned his precocious mother, thanking the German radical for the messages of "support and affection" they sent erstwhile she died past year.

"Over each these years, and successful truthful galore ways, I person been struck by the warmth of the relationship betwixt our nations and by the vitality of our concern successful countless areas," the King said.

"It was, Mr President, a relationship which mattered greatly to my mother, the precocious Queen, who cared profoundly astir the enslaved betwixt our 2 countries.

"The narration betwixt Germany and the United Kingdom matters greatly to me... I volition bash each I tin to fortify the connections betwixt us."

Wednesday's authorities sojourn began with a 21-gun salute and combatant pitchy fly-past arsenic the King and Camilla emerged from the ministerial level Voyager aft touching down astatine Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.

As a people of respect, the couple's level was escorted by 2 Typhoon jets arsenic it approached the airport.

From there, it was connected to the ceremonial accomplishment astatine the Brandenburg Gate, the symbolic bosom of Berlin. The entity was acold and grey, but the show successful King Charles' honour was intended to amusement the warmth of the greeting from Germany's President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

This was the archetypal clip successful past the Brandenburg Gate had served arsenic the backdrop to the invited reception of immoderate visiting caput of state.

The monument is simply a awesome of the country's part during the Cold War and consequent reunification. For much than 3 decades, it stood conscionable down the partition which divided West and East Germany.

There were besides splashes of colour from flags which hung astir Pariser Platz - and not conscionable German and British flags, but besides conspicuously galore EU flags.

And that reflected the underlying intent of this authorities sojourn - to fortify relations with an important European spouse that mightiness person been frayed by Brexit.

It was a ceremonial gathering betwixt heads of state, with subject bands and choky security, but it was besides a cautiously choreographed portion of diplomatic theatre, delivering an representation of unity successful Germany's astir iconic setting.

After the flags were hoisted and nationalist anthems were played, King Charles and President Steinmeier made their mode to greet crowds of radical who had lined the streets to drawback a glimpse of the British monarch.

Earlier, President Steinmeier described the determination to prime Germany to big the authorities sojourn arsenic an "important motion for German-British relations".

"Today, connected the time six years agone erstwhile Britain began its exit from the European Union, we are opening a caller section successful our relations," helium said successful a statement.

As caput of state, the King's authoritative visits are decided connected authorities advice. The prime of Germany - and originally, France - arsenic the archetypal overseas destinations visited by the monarch volition beryllium seen arsenic prioritising stronger relations with European neighbours.

Announcing the authorities sojourn earlier this month, Buckingham Palace said it would "celebrate Britain's relationship" with Germany, "marking our shared histories, civilization and values".

As good arsenic addressing what a palace spokesperson called the "sacrifices and challenges of our shared past", the travel is intended to absorption connected modern challenges, including clime alteration and the warfare successful Ukraine.

The King volition go the archetypal British sovereign to code the Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament, connected Thursday.

King Charles and Camilla were primitively owed to beryllium welcomed astatine a reddish carpet reception successful the Elysée Palace successful Paris connected Sunday.

But the French limb of their European circuit was cancelled past week aft protesters planned further demonstrations implicit President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms to coincide with the visit.