The King and Queen Consort of the United Kingdom will embark on their first State Visit of the new reign to France and Germany from March 26 to March 31, 2023. The purpose of the visit is
to celebrate the relationship between Britain, France, and Germany, highlighting the shared histories, culture, and values of these nations. The visit will also demonstrate the many ways the United Kingdom is working in partnership with France and Germany to address key issues, such as climate change, responding to the conflict in Ukraine, seizing trade and investment opportunities, and sharing the best of arts and culture.
In addition to showcasing the strength of the UK's bilateral relationships with France and Germany, the visit will include engagements that highlight the importance of sustainability and community, which have been embraced by citizens of all three countries. There will also be opportunities to reflect on the sacrifices and challenges of the shared past, which have resulted in an enduring legacy of cooperation and reconciliation.
Their Majesties will start their State Visit in France, arriving on Sunday, March 26, and will spend their first few days in Paris before traveling to Bordeaux on Tuesday, March 28. Some of the highlights of their French programme will include a ceremony of Remembrance and wreath laying at the Arc de Triomphe with President and Mrs. Macron, addressing Senators and members of the National Assembly at the French Senate, and officially opening the new Manet and Degas exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay. Their Majesties will also be guests of honor at a State Banquet hosted by President and Mrs. Macron at the Chateau de Versailles, witness the devastation caused by last summer’s wildfires on the outskirts of Bordeaux, mark the opening of the British Consulate in Bordeaux, and tour an organic vineyard that has pioneered a sustainable approach to wine making.
On Wednesday, March 29, Their Majesties will travel to Berlin, where they will be welcomed by President Steinmeier and Frau Büdenbender at the Brandenburg Gate. The following day, they will be guests of honor at a State Banquet hosted by the President and his wife at Schloss Bellevue. His Majesty will also address the Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament, and meet refugees who have recently arrived from Ukraine to hear about the support Germany provides for them. Her Majesty will visit the Komische Oper in Berlin, accompanied by Frau Büdenbender, to learn more about the opera company’s outreach projects and community engagement.
In Brandenburg, His Majesty will meet representatives from a joint German/U.K. military unit and see a demonstration of their bridge-building amphibious vehicles. Their Majesties will then travel to Hamburg on Friday, March 31, where they will visit the St. Nikolai Memorial, the remains of a church destroyed during the Second World War. His Majesty and the President will lay wreaths during a short ceremony of remembrance. His Majesty will also learn more about the port of Hamburg’s adoption of green technologies, meeting representatives from some of the firms involved. The King and Queen Consort will attend a celebratory reception with Hamburg residents and members of the local British community, accompanied by the President and Frau Büdenbender, marking the end of their State Visit.
Overall, this State Visit provides an opportunity for the United Kingdom to strengthen its relationships with France and Germany and to showcase the ways in which it is working with these countries to address important global challenges. It is also an occasion to reflect on the shared history, culture, and values that unite these nations and to celebrate the enduring legacy of cooperation and reconciliation that has emerged from that shared past. Photo by Matt Mackey / Press Eye By Northern Ireland Office - [1], CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons