King Charles hosted a star-studded state banquet at Windsor Castle for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, marking the first state visit by a German leader to the UK in 27 years. The event made modern royal history with a towering 20-foot Christmas tree glittering with 15,000 lights taking center stage in St George's Hall.
The festive centerpiece forced adjustments to the traditional setup. The mahogany dining table was shortened to 45 meters, and guest numbers reduced from the usual 160 to 152. A Palace aide explained: «It's shorter because of the whopper tree and the guest numbers have been reduced to 152 to make room. It looks magnificent.»
The three-day visit underscores strengthened UK-Germany ties following July's Kensington Treaty. President Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender received full ceremonial honors, arriving via horse-drawn carriage through Windsor's streets after landing at Heathrow, where Prince William and Princess Catherine greeted them.
Royal glamour and diplomatic significance
Princess Catherine turned heads wearing Queen Victoria's Oriental Circlet Tiara, featuring 11 Mughal arches set with 2,600 diamonds. The historic piece was designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and designated an "heirloom of the Crown" in 1901. Catherine paired it with a sparkling blue gown for the white-tie dinner.
The guest list blended diplomatic figures with cultural icons. German supermodel Claudia Schiffer sat next to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, her place card reading "Lady Vaughn" due to her husband Sir Matthew Vaughn's recent knighthood. Other guests included Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler, German footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger, and England Lioness Georgia Stanway.
Queen Camilla wore the Girls of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Tiara and the Order of Germany Sash. The Duchess of Edinburgh's String Orchestra performed a repertoire spanning classical German composers to Hans Zimmer film scores and a Beatles medley.
Unprecedented royal milestone
The banquet marks King Charles's third state visit this year, following French President Emmanuel Macron in July and US President Donald Trump in September. This makes him the first British monarch in 37 years to host three state visits in one year - a feat last achieved by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.
The King continues hosting duties while undergoing cancer treatment, demonstrating his commitment to diplomatic relations during a critical period.
Diplomatic context and cooperation
Speaking at 10 Downing Street before the banquet, President Steinmeier emphasized closer cooperation amid European security challenges. «We have a new security situation in Europe, if not in the whole world. So therefore there is a need of closer cooperation,» he said, noting UK-Germany relations are in "far better shape" than the difficult post-Brexit period.
Prime Minister Starmer said the nations have «worked very, very closely on hugely important issues like Ukraine, where our two countries think alike and act alike, on issues of migration and on economic growth and trade, where we go from strength to strength.»
The Kensington Treaty, signed in July, represents the first formal pact between the UK and Germany since World War II, outlining enhanced cooperation on migration, defense, trade, and education.
Personalized touches
The menu, written in French as tradition dictates, featured hot smoked trout with langoustines, Windsor partridge wrapped in puff pastry, and baked Alaska with blackberry, vanilla, and raspberry ice creams. A Black Forest gateau cocktail blended cherry brandy with German chocolate liqueur, continuing King Charles's tradition of creating personalized cocktails for each state banquet.
The wine list diplomatically included German, English, and French selections. The French red - Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol, 1995 - marked a personal tribute, celebrating the year President Steinmeier and Ms. Budenbender married.
Seasonal flowers were handpicked from Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and the Savill Garden, with poinsettias from Windsor greenhouses. After the event, non-reusable flowers will be donated to Floral Angels, a charity patroned by Queen Camilla, and delivered to hospices, care homes, and shelters.
The visit continues with President Steinmeier addressing parliamentarians and visiting the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, bombed during World War II, before a private visit to St George's Chapel to lay flowers on Queen Elizabeth II's tomb.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
