Buckingham Palace issued an update as President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender received a ceremonial royal reception in Windsor, complete with marching bands and a carriage ride to the castle.
In clips posted to the royal family’s official Instagram accounts, King Charles and Queen Camilla can be seen inspecting preparations for the state banquet for royal guests.
The German president and his wife arrived at Windsor Castle in regal style.
After a royal salute was fired at Windsor’s Home Park and also at the Tower of London, the royals, President Steinmeier and First Lady Büdenbender took part in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Windsor Castle.
The trip marks the first state visit to the United Kingdom by a president of the Federal Republic of Germany in 27 years.
However, he has traveled to London in an official capacity once before, making history by becoming the first German leader to join members of the royal family in laying a wreath at the Cenotaph war memorial in November 2018, as they marked Remembrance Day.
The German president’s visit marks the third state visit hosted by the United Kingdom this year. French President Emmanuel Macron was the celebrity guest in July, and US President Donald Trump was welcomed in September.
