The King pledged to “strengthen the connections” between the UK and Germany at a state banquet in Berlin.
The state dinner took place at Schloss Bellevue, the official residence of the German president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is hosting the event.
In the first state banquet speech of his reign, Charles paid tribute to the “enduring value” of the two countries’ relationship and stressed he was “utterly convinced” the bond between them “will grow ever stronger”.
His Majesty addressed guests in both English and German praising the two countries’ shared values of “promoting global health, net zero and protecting our shared democratic values”.
He paid tribute to Germany’s “extraordinary generosity” in hosting over a million Ukrainian refugees.
The King even got a laugh at the white-tie event when he referenced a British comedy sketch called “Dinner For One” which is hugely popular in Germany.
In it an elderly aristocrat dines alone while her waiter gets progressively more drunk as he consumes alcohol poured for her non-existent guests.
It has become a tradition to watch the 18 minute sketch on New Year’s Eve in Germany.
Image: King Charles with Angela Merkel. Pic: AP
President Steinmeier in his speech noted that Britain began the process of leaving the EU on 29 March 2017.
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“For me personally, this was a sad day,” he said. “Today, exactly six years later, we open a new chapter.”
Mr Steinmeier paid tribute to Charles’ mother Elizabeth, stressing how much she had done to foster German-British ties.
“Your family stands for continuity, for stability, particularly in times of change,” he said, noting that Charles, too, had visited Germany more than 40 times as a prince.
Former chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly also attended the event, taking place in the Tiergarten district of the German capital.
Image: King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender
Image: The King with German President Steinmeier
Image: The Queen Consort with the president’s wife, Elke Budenbender
The Queen Consort was wearing a tiara and bracelet that belonged to her mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth for the event.
It was rumoured that some of the King’s German cousins were invited to the event, including Prince Donatus of Hesse, who dined with the late Queen when she visited Frankfurt during a 2015 state visit with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Others tipped to attend included Prince Baden Bernhard, who attended Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, and his father Prince Ludwig of Baden.
Image: Former chancellor Angela Merkel attended the event
Earlier President Steinmeier praised the King’s green “convictions” and thanked him for choosing to visit Germany for his first state visit as monarch.
In a speech he said: “I am grateful that King Charles III began to champion healthy nutrition, sustainability and climate action very early on. We are all benefiting today from Your Majesty’s convictions.”
He added: “This visit, Your Majesty’s very first trip abroad as the new King, is a tremendous personal gesture – and for that I would like to express my heartfelt thanks.
“I am looking forward to the coming days and to the many opportunities we will have to exchange views.”
Image: The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and his wife Susannah also attended
The couple began their trip by arriving at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport at about 1pm UK time, and visited the Brandenburg Gate, the first time the landmark has been used to welcome any visiting head of state.
The King took time to greet individuals who were waiting at the gate and spoke to a group of girls who had recently visited London, and a schoolchild who he asked: “No school today?”
During the visit, the King will head to the Presidential Palace, where he will learn what Germany is doing to highlight causes such as sustainability, hear about the support Germany are providing to Ukraine, and address the German parliament, speaking in both English and German.
Image: Charles and Camilla, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at Brandenburg Gate. Pic:AP
Image: President Steinmeier shakes hands with the King
Fly-past of fighter jets as King and Queen Consort say trip is ‘great joy’
As the ministerial plane Voyager approached the airport, it was escorted by two Typhoon jets, a mark of respect to the King.
Image: Voyager plane
They were then greeted by a 21-gun salute and a fly-past of two fighter jets after pausing at the top of the plane’s steps. At the bottom, the royals were greeted by a line of dignitaries including the British ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard, and the state secretary Dorte Dinger.
A visit full of firsts for a head of state
Touching down in Berlin there was little doubt this is a significant visit.
A 21-gun salute and flypast greeted the King and Queen Consort as they stepped off the plane.
And then at the Brandenburg Gate a full ceremonial welcome.
No other head of state has been given this honour.
The monument, once a place of German division, is now a symbol of unity.
Which very much represents the diplomatic message underpinning the trip.
This is the King’s 29th official visit to Germany, but the first state visit of his reign.
The fact a close European neighbour was chosen says a lot.
It is a chance to put aside the turbulent frictions of Brexit, and renew relationships.
An opportunity to focus on common Anglo-German interests, such as the war in Ukraine and the climate crisis, both issues close to the King.
Of course, the State Visit wasn’t supposed to start in Berlin, but political protests in France mean Germany is now playing host.
The country is pulling out the stops during the three day visit. The King and Queen Consort are guests of honour at a white tie State Banquet.
And another first for the King will be when he addresses the German Parliament, something no other British monarch has done.
In a joint statement posted to Twitter, the King and Queen Consort said it was a “great joy” to be able to develop the “longstanding friendship” between the two nations.
Image: The King signs the guest book with Queen Consort. Pic: AP
“Ahead of our first state visit to Germany, we are very much looking forward to meeting all of those who make this country so special,” the statement read.
Image: People wait to greet the King and Queen Consort at the Brandenburg Gate
They will leave Berlin and travel to Hamburg on Friday.
The first thing you notice when immigration officers stop a possible illegal moped delivery driver is the speed in which the suspect quickly taps on their mobile.
“We’re in their WhatsApp groups – they’ll be telling thousands now that we’re here… so our cover is blown,” the lead immigration officer tells me.
“It’s like a constant game of cat and mouse.”
Twelve Immigration Enforcement officers, part of the Home Office, are joining colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police in a crackdown on road offences and migrants working illegally.
The West of England and Wales has seen the highest number of arrests over the last year for illegal workers outside of London.
“It is a problem… we’re tackling it,” Murad Mohammed, from Immigration Enforcement, says. He covers all the devolved nations.
“This is just one of the operations going on around the country, every day of the week, every month of the year.”
Image: Murad Mohammed, from Immigration Enforcement, says his team are attempting to tackle the issue
Just outside the Cabot Circus shopping complex, we stop a young Albanian man who arrived in the UK on the back of a truck.
He’s on an expensive and fast-looking e-bike, with a new-looking Just Eat delivery bag.
He says he just uses it for “groceries” – but the officer isn’t buying it. He’s arrested, but then bailed instantly.
We don’t know the specifics of his case, but one officer tells me this suspected offence won’t count against his asylum claim.
Such is the scale of the problem – the backlog, loopholes and the complexity of cases – that trying to keep on top of it feels impossible.
This is one of many raids happening across the UK as part of what the government says is a “blitz” targeting illegal working hotspots.
Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, joins the team for an hour at one of Bristol’sretail parks, scattered with fast food chains and, therefore, delivery bikes.
Image: Border security and asylum minister, Angela Eagle, speaks to Sky News
She says arrests for illegal working are up over the last year by 51% from the year before, to more than 7,000.
“If we find you working, you can lose access to the hotel or the support you have [been] given under false pretences,” she said.
“We are cracking down on that abuse, and we intend to keep doing so.”
There are reports that asylum seekers can rent legitimate delivery-driver accounts within hours of arriving in the country – skipping employment legality checks.
Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat all told Sky News they’re continuing to strengthen the technology they use to remove anyone working illegally.
But a new Border Security Bill, working its way through Parliament, could see companies fined £60,000 for each illegal worker discovered, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
“I had them all in to see me last week and I told them in no uncertain terms that we take a very tough line on this kind of abuse and they’ve got to change their systems so they can drive it out and off their platforms,” the minister tells me.
For some of those who arrive, a bike and a phone provide a way to repay debts to gang masters.
There were eight arrests today in Bristol, one or two taken into custody, but it was 12 hours of hard work by a dozen immigration officers and the support of the police.
As two mopeds are pushed onto a low-loader, you can’t help but feel, despite the best intentions, that at the moment, this is a losing battle.
We see the boat from a distance – the orange of the life jackets reflected in the rising sun.
And as we draw closer, we can make out dozens of people crowded on board as it sets off from the shore, from a beach near Dunkirk.
There is no sign of any police activity on the shore, and there are no police vessels in the water.
Instead, the migrants crammed into an inflatable dinghy are being watched by us, on board a private boat, and the looming figure of the Minck, a French search and rescue ship that soon arrives.
Image: Minck, a French search and rescue ship, shadows the boat
The dinghy meanders. It’s not heading towards Britain but rather hugging the coast.
A few of the passengers wave at us cheerfully, but then the boat starts to head back towards the shore.
Image: Sky’s Adam Parsons at the scene
As it nears a different beach, we see a police vehicle – a dune buggy – heading down to meet it.
Normal practice is for French police officers to slice through the material of any of these small boats that end up back on shore.
Two police officers get out of the buggy and wait. A police helicopter arrives and circles above, performing a tight circle over the heads of the migrants.
The police think they might be about to go back on to the beach; in fact, these passengers know that most of them are staying put.
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The boat stops a short distance from the shore and four people jump out. As they wade towards the beach, the boat turns and starts to head back out to sea.
We see the two police officers approach these four men and have a brief conversation.
They don’t appear to check the bags they are carrying and, if they do question them about why they left the boat, it is the most cursory of conversations.
In reality, these people probably don’t speak French but they were almost certainly involved in arranging this crossing, which is against the law. But all four walk away, disappearing into the dunes at the back of the beach.
The first thing you notice when immigration officers stop a possible illegal moped delivery driver is the speed in which the suspect quickly taps on their mobile.
“We’re in their WhatsApp groups – they’ll be telling thousands now that we’re here… so our cover is blown,” the lead immigration officer tells me.
“It’s like a constant game of cat and mouse.”
Twelve Immigration Enforcement officers, part of the Home Office, are joining colleagues from Avon and Somerset Police in a crackdown on road offences and migrants working illegally.
The West of England and Wales has seen the highest number of arrests over the last year for illegal workers outside of London.
“It is a problem… we’re tackling it,” Murad Mohammed, from Immigration Enforcement, says. He covers all the devolved nations.
“This is just one of the operations going on around the country, every day of the week, every month of the year.”
Image: Murad Mohammed, from Immigration Enforcement, says his team are attempting to tackle the issue
Just outside the Cabot Circus shopping complex, we stop a young Albanian man who arrived in the UK on the back of a truck.
He’s on an expensive and fast-looking e-bike, with a new-looking Just Eat delivery bag.
He says he just uses it for “groceries” – but the officer isn’t buying it. He’s arrested, but then bailed instantly.
We don’t know the specifics of his case, but one officer tells me this suspected offence won’t count against his asylum claim.
Such is the scale of the problem – the backlog, loopholes and the complexity of cases – that trying to keep on top of it feels impossible.
This is one of many raids happening across the UK as part of what the government says is a “blitz” targeting illegal working hotspots.
Angela Eagle, the border security and asylum minister, joins the team for an hour at one of Bristol’sretail parks, scattered with fast food chains and, therefore, delivery bikes.
Image: Border security and asylum minister, Angela Eagle, speaks to Sky News
She says arrests for illegal working are up over the last year by 51% from the year before, to more than 7,000.
“If we find you working, you can lose access to the hotel or the support you have [been] given under false pretences,” she said.
“We are cracking down on that abuse, and we intend to keep doing so.”
There are reports that asylum seekers can rent legitimate delivery-driver accounts within hours of arriving in the country – skipping employment legality checks.
Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat all told Sky News they’re continuing to strengthen the technology they use to remove anyone working illegally.
But a new Border Security Bill, working its way through Parliament, could see companies fined £60,000 for each illegal worker discovered, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to five years.
“I had them all in to see me last week and I told them in no uncertain terms that we take a very tough line on this kind of abuse and they’ve got to change their systems so they can drive it out and off their platforms,” the minister tells me.
For some of those who arrive, a bike and a phone provide a way to repay debts to gang masters.
There were eight arrests today in Bristol, one or two taken into custody, but it was 12 hours of hard work by a dozen immigration officers and the support of the police.
As two mopeds are pushed onto a low-loader, you can’t help but feel, despite the best intentions, that at the moment, this is a losing battle.