German-British relations
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are on a four-day visit to Germany. Visits to Berlin and Frankfurt am Main were on the agenda of this fifth state visit to Germany.
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The Queen is officially welcomed to Frankfurt at the Römer, or Town Hall
Photo: Bundesregierung/Denzel
On Friday morning the royal couple left Berlin.
Before flying home from Celle on Friday, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the memorial site at Bergen-Belsen and laid a wreath. British troops liberated the concentration camp there shortly before the end of the Second World War.
On Thursday the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Frankfurt am Main. They visited St. Paul’s Church with Federal President Joachim Gauck and were welcomed in the Town Hall.
Full programme in Berlin
On Wednesday morning Federal President Joachim Gauck welcomed the Queen with military honours at Schloss Bellevue. A full programme then awaited the royal couple, starting with a trip by boat along the River Spree through Berlin’s government district. The Queen then met with Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Federal Chancellery.
On Wednesday afternoon the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited Berlin’s Technical University where they attended the Queen’s Lecture. This year’s lecture was given by Neil MacGregor, outgoing Director of the British Museum and future head of the Humboldt-Forum. The Queen initiated the lectures during her first visit to Germany in 1965.
In the afternoon Angela Merkel met with British Prime Minister David Cameron for bilateral talks. David Cameron was a member of the delegation accompanying the Queen to Berlin.
Relations between Germany and the United Kingdom are extremely close and diverse. Both countries play an active role in the European Union, NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), the United Nations, the G7, the G20 and other international bodies. Like Germany, the United Kingdom is actively engaged in international climate change mitigation efforts.
Berlin, 23.06.15: The representatives of the press await the arrival of the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh. It is the Queen's fifth state visit to Germany.
Since her accession to the throne in February 1952 the Queen has been head of state of the 53 Commonwealth states.
Berlin, 24.06.15: The day began with Federal President Joachim Gauck welcoming his royal guests at Schloss Bellevue.
The Federal President gave the Queen a painting of herself as a young girl with her father.
Large crowds thronged the banks to watch the royal visitors travel by boat down the River Spree to the Federal Chancellery.
Chancellor Angela Merkel and Peter Altmaier, Head of the Federal Chancellery, await their royal visitors in front of the Federal Chancellery.
While the Queen enjoyed a private meeting with the Chancellor ...
... the Duke of Edinburgh spoke with Peter Altmaier, Head of the Federal Chancellery, in the Cabinet room.
Then the Queen drove to Germany's central memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship in Unter den Linden.
The Queen laid a wreath at Germany's central memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship.
Students and staff of Berlin's Technical University welcome the Queen before the "Queen’s Lecture".
The lectures on scientific, cultural or economic topics are an integral part of the cultural programme of the Techncial University.
The day ended with a state banquet in honour of the royal visitors hosted by Federal President Joachim Gauck in Schloss Bellevue.
Berlin, 25.06.15: On Thursday the Queen set off for Frankfurt am Main accompanied by Federal President Joachim Gauck.
In Frankfurt too, crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the Queen.
Peter Feldmann, Lord Mayor of Frankfurt and Hesse's State Premier Volker Bouffier welcome the Queen.
At Frankfurt's Town Hall, or Römer as it is known
"The European Union needs Britain," says Joachim Gauck
On Wednesday evening the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were guests of honour at a state banquet hosted by Federal President Joachim Gauck. He once again welcomed the royal visitors most warmly to Germany. "Britain is part of Europe, and the European Union needs Britain," said Joachim Gauck. "A united Europe, a strong European Union represent stability, peace and freedom – for us all," continued the Federal President.
In her speech the Queen expressed her pleasure that relations between the United Kingdom and Germany have irreversibly changed for the better. She paid tribute to the work of the German statesmen since the Second World War who reinvented Germany and helped to rebuild Europe. Finally she underscored the importance of a united Europe. Division in Europe, she said, is dangerous, and we must guard against it in the West and in the East of the continent.
Much in common in politics
"We are delighted that the Queen is coming to Germany," Chancellor Angela Merkel declared earlier in her weekly video podcast. The Queen "has seen first hand how relations between Germany and the United Kingdom have developed over time. Today relations are extremely cordial, but this trend has, of course, only developed over the years since the Federal Republic of Germany was founded," said Angela Merkel.
The two countries "have a great deal in common in politics" said the Chancellor in the podcast. Looking ahead to the planned referendum over EU membership in the United Kingdom, she reaffirmed that she "would like to see the United Kingdom remain part of the European Union".
The Queen’s fifth state visit
Queen Elizabeth the Second of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is visiting Germany from 23 to 26 June 2015. She is accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. They are visiting at the invitation of the Federal President. Joachim Gauck and his partner Daniela Schadt visited the Queen in London in 2012.
This is the Queen’s fifth state visit to Germany, following earlier visits in 1965, 1978, 1992 and 2004. She also visited Germany in 1987 to mark the 750th anniversary of the founding of Berlin and in 2000 to attend the opening of the new British Embassy.
The Queen is one of the longest reigning monarchs in history. She has been Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since 1952; the coronation took place in 1953. Her first Prime Minister was Sir Winston Churchill.