Following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth in September, King Charles will make his first state trips to France and Germany, according to a statement from Buckingham Palace on Friday.
As a first for a British monarch, Charles will address the chambers of both of his European neighbours’ parliaments during his hectic five-day tour with Camilla, the Queen Consort, which will start on March 26.
The visit will recognise our common histories, cultures, and values while also celebrating the UK’s relationships with France and Germany, according to a representative for Buckingham Palace. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the numerous ways in which our nations are collaborating.
Charles will travel the short distance across the English Channel at the government’s request because it wants to improve relations with Europe in the wake of Brexit, unlike his mother who undertook a lengthy tour after becoming queen in 1952 that included stops in Australia, New Zealand, and other realms where she was the head of state.
Since Charles’ accession to the throne, the presidents of France and Germany have also swiftly sent invitations to him, according to a palace source.
While in France, he will attend a memorial service at the Arc de Triomphe and a state luncheon at the Palace of Versailles with President Emmanuel Macron.
In a statement to Britain after Elizabeth’s passing, Macron, noting that she will be “with us forever,” offered a touching homage to Elizabeth. “She was your queen in your eyes. She was the queen to us “said he.
In a reference to the king’s long-running environmental campaigns, Charles will address senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate in addition to travelling to Bordeaux to view the effects of last summer’s wildfires and tour an organic vineyard.
strained relations with France
After Britain’s 2016 vote to exit the European Union and ongoing disputes over fishing rights and refugees crossing the English Channel in tiny boats from France to Britain, relations between London and Paris have become tense.
Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, has attempted to mend the relationship by reaching agreements to increase efforts to combat illegal immigration and to resolve a contentious dispute over trade to and from Northern Ireland after Brexit.
In March, he will have a private summit with Macron.
The German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will formally welcome the British royals to Germany at the Brandenburg Gate. This is the first time a visiting head of state has done so.
According to Steinmeier spokesperson Cerstin Gammelin, “it’s crucial for the president to inform the king but also all British that we in Germany and also Europe wish our relations with the United Kingdom stay close and cordial even after Brexit.
Moreover, Charles will deliver a speech at the German parliament and meet with freshly arrived Ukrainian refugees. On the trip, they will stop in Hamburg and visit the St. Nikolai Monument, which is a memorial to a church that was destroyed when the Allies bombarded the city during World War Two.
(Reuters)
