King Charles welcomes German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Windsor Castle for historic state visit

King Charles has welcomed German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Windsor Castle at the start of a historic visit to the UK.

It is the first state visit for German leader in 27 years, and the streets of Windsor have been adorned with German flags and Union Jacks.

Mr Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender, were met outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station by King Charles and Queen Camilla, with the famous castle as the backdrop.

King Charles opened his arms wide, and Mr Steinmeier said: “It’s so wonderful, Your Majesty, to see you again.”

They took a carriage ride through to the castle, where they received a ceremonial welcome.

A state banquet will be held this evening. Around 160 guests who will join them in St George’s Hall, where a Christmas tree, decked with 3,000 lights, will be on display.

Later today, Mr Steinmeier will join Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at a roundtable of UK and German business leaders.

This comes as alongside the announcement of a £20m electric vehicle (EV) project, led by German car manufacturer Mercedes. The initiative is set to create an initial 150 jobs in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.

A new partnership was signed by Germany and the UK in July, known as the Kensington Treaty, with Sir Keir saying at the time that the UK and Germany would “work ever more closely”.

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Mr Steinmeier will pay his respects and lay flowers at the tomb of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the castle’s St George’s Chapel on Thursday morning before addressing Parliament later in the day.