King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla arrive in Germany

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla touch down in Germany: Royals begin first State Visit of their reign with a full ceremonial welcome – after incredible military escort by two German fighter jets as their RAF Voyager entered German airspace

• Charles and Camilla landed at Brandenburg Airport shortly after 2pm local time

The King and Queen Consort have arrived in Germany for the first State Visit of their reign.

Charles and Camilla landed on the British Government’s Voyager plane at Berlin Brandenburg Airport shortly after 2pm local time after leaving from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire this morning.

In a unique gesture of honour, two German fighter jets accompanied the King and Queen Consort’s RAF Voyager plane when it entered German airspace. Amid brilliant blue skies, one flew on each side of the royal aircraft for around 20 minutes.

The couple had been due to fly in from Paris but the first part of their visit to France was cancelled at the 11th hour by President Macron amid scenes of huge civil unrest in his country. It will be re-arranged at a later date.

The Queen Consort sported a colourful turquoise coat and dress by Bruce Oldfield and a jaunty hat by Philip Treacy. And in a beautifully personal detail, she was sporting a brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth, given to the late monarch by Queen Mary on her confirmation in 1942.

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla walk along the red carpet at Berlin Brandenburg Airport after arriving at 2pm local time 

 The Queen Consort sported a colourful turquoise coat and dress by Bruce Oldfield and a jaunty hat by Philip Treacy

In a unique gesture of honour, two German fighter jets accompanied the King and Queen Consort’s RAF Voyager plane when it entered German airspace

The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, is rolling out the red carpet for his royal visitors, including honouring them with the first full ceremonial and military welcome at the Brandenburg Gate since the Second World War.

Even Queen Elizabeth II, who also visited Berlin for her last ever State Visit abroad in 2015, wasn’t afforded that honour.

READ MORE: King Charles’ German cousins you’ve never heard of! 

Charles will also become the first monarch to address the German parliament, with a speech tomorrow, before travelling to the port city of Hamburg on Friday.   

It is being seen as a sign of the importance that both Governments are placing on the visit post-Brexit and in the face of the conflict in Ukraine.

The Royal Family’s unique brand of ‘soft diplomacy’ is seen as a significant weapon for the British government to build on the already strong historic ties between the two countries.

Today, Charles and Camilla put out a statement sharing their excitement about the visit. 

‘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,’ they wrote.

‘It is a great joy to be able to continue the deepening of the longstanding friendship between our two nations.’

Charles and Camilla exchanged a few words after they descended down the steps of the aircraft 

In a beautifully personal detail, Camilla was sporting a brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth, given to the late monarch by Queen Mary on her confirmation in 1942

Charles and Camilla looked relaxed as they worked their way along the line of dignitaries 

The late Queen visiting the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in 2016. Even she was not afforded the honour of a full ceremonial and military welcome at the famous site 

The royal couple moments before stepping out of the aircraft to be greeted by an honour guard 

At the airport today the King and Queen Consort were greeted by a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-past to mark the start of their State Visit

Today, Charles and Camilla put out a statement sharing their excitement about the visit

Amid brilliant blue skies, one flew on each side of the royal aircraft for around 20 minutes

The British government’s liveried Voyager plane – with Charles and Camilla inside – touches down on the runway in Berlin 

Camilla and Charles are seen through the window of their official car as they drove off from the airport 

The Queen Consort waves to crowds and she leaves Berlin Brandenburg Airport with her husband 

The King steps into his car for the drive into the centre of Berlin 

The Royal Air Force plane had the German national flag and the Royal Standard flying out of the pilot’s window 

An honour guard waits on the runway in Berlin for the King and Queen Consort to leave the aircraft 

A large group of police motorcyclists prepares to accompany the royal motorcade 

A royal source said: ‘The fact that the programme has so many unique ceremonial elements to it does reflect the strength of the relationship and the fact that this is the first State Visit of Their Majesties reign. The atmosphere in which this has been planned is extraordinarily positive.

‘Their Majesties are very alive to the particular context of Ukraine at the moment which is obviously one of the challenges we are facing together in Europe.’

At the airport today the King and Queen Consort were greeted by a twenty-one gun salute and a fly-past to mark the start of their State Visit.

The couple paused at the top of the plane steps to receive the salute as two military jets carried out a fly past.

As they descended the King and Queen Consort were greeted by State Secretary Dörte Dinger; the Chief of German Protocol at the Foreign Ministry, Mr. Till Knorn; and the British Ambassador to Germany, Jill Gallard. 

Their Majesties walked along a red carpet lined by a Guard of Honour, provided by the Federal Defence Forces of Germany before being introduced by the the Chief of Protocol to Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the UK, Major General Wolfgang Gäbelein, Director of the Bundeswehr, Mrs. Andrea Kundrus, Protocol Officer for the State Visit, and Mrs. Zsófia Liptak-Jeken, Protocol Officer for the State Visit.

The visit has been designed to celebrate Britain’s relationship with Germany, marking its shared history, culture and values with the UK. 

Members of a German honor guard march past the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin as they rehearse for the couple’s arrival 

 Thirty-nine year old Ewa from Berlin holds a Union Jack flag with a picture of Queen Elizabeth II

A man wears a paper crown and a Union flag while waiting for the royals to arrive 

Crowds carrying German and British flags wait to greet the royals in Berlin 

Members of German Armed Forces practice the hoisting of the Union Jack ahead of Charles’ arrival 

A police sharp shooter stands atop a building overlooking the Brandenburg Gate

A man fastens the red carpet in front of the Brandenburg Gate as the city prepared  to welcomed Charles and Camilla 

It will also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the many ways the United Kingdom is working in partnership with Germany on issues including climate change and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as develop opportunities in trade and investment and arts and culture.

There will be a significant number of engagements emphasising the United Kingdom’s bilateral relationship with Germany and, no doubt to the king’s delight, highlighting the importance of sustainability and community.

Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen Consort would also ‘reflect on the sacrifices and challenges of our shared past, out of which has come an enduring legacy of cooperation and reconciliation.’

This is the King’s 29th official visit to Germany. Her Majesty has undertaken three official visits, the last in 2020.

At a banquet at the Bellevue Palace – the president’s official residence – Charles is expected to make a speech in both English and German.

Charles will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, talk to Ukrainian refugees and meet with British and German military personnel who are working together on joint projects. 

It is the first joint battalion between the countries for more than two centuries and was reinstituted 18 months ago. 

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