King Charles and Camilla today supported work in Germany to care for the more than 1 million Ukrainians who have fled there since the Russian invasion.
His Majesty toured the Tegel refugee center in Berlin, where he met some of the residents and heard their heartbreaking stories, just an hour after he told the Bundestag about the “unimaginable suffering” in their home country.
The king said to Ukrainian families fleeing Putin’s war: “I pray for you” as he visited a refugee center – where thousands now live in tents and marquees. They are also battling a chickenpox outbreak.
Separately, the Queen Consort visited the Refugio House, a meeting place for locals and newcomers to Berlin, including refugees.
Charles, 74, surprised refugees who had just arrived at Berlin’s old Tegel Airport for registration. He laughed as he lost a game of foosball in the center’s play area, paused to shake hands and listened to stories of refugees fleeing the war zone.
King Charles III during a visit to the arrival center for refugees at Tegel Airport, Berlin, as part of a state visit to Germany
Charles laughed after being beaten at table football by Ukrainian refugees
Camilla, Queen Consort, went to Refugio Berlin and spoke to Diana Strassheim and her baby Kuno
He was led through the arrival center of Ukraine by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
On several occasions, Charles clasped his hands and told the refugees, “I am praying for you.”
Afterwards, Olena Ochkiviska, 40, spoke through a preschool translator: “I told him that everyone is taking care of us and working on the negatives.
“He said he was praying for all of us. I am the happiest woman in the world.”
Charles stopped to speak to families who registered upon arrival and said, “Do you sleep here?”
He also asked: “Was it very difficult to get out of Ukraine? Are you happy to be here?’
He also played foosball in the refugee center’s playroom.
He said, “I remember trying that when I was younger.”
But when he conceded a goal, he replied: “Amazing, two hands, you are the experts.”
Kleopatra Tummler, operations manager at the refugee center, who also worked as Take That’s tour manager for 15 years, said afterwards: “He really showed an interest in everyone’s stories.
“He learned that some said there weren’t enough basements in Ukraine to hide.
“There was a family who had just arrived and registered here that he stopped to speak to.”
Sascha Langenbach, spokesman for the State Office for Refugee Affairs, said afterwards: “We are overwhelmed by the empathetic way in which the king approached both the refugees and the organizers working here.
“We have many refugees who are suffering from diseases like cancer and need specialist treatment.
“He was so interested and shook hands with everyone and asked where they were from and heard about their experiences.
“It was really something special and we didn’t expect His Majesty to do it.”
Britain’s King Charles III (C) and Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey (2R) visit Ukraine Arrival Center Tegel
Camilla, Queen Consort visits the Refugio House community center and meets some of the home’s residents and groups
The Ukrainian arrival center opened as a shelter on March 20, and the majority are women and children.
When war broke out last year, up to 10,000 people came to Berlin by train every day.
Most remain in temporary marquee accommodation before moving to more suitable longer-term housing.
Refugees have been housed in two unused terminal buildings since last spring.
In winter, two large heated tents were set up on the asphalt.
The third terminal building was used as a registration center.
The old airport was first used for the Berlin Airlift of 1948 but was decommissioned in October 2020 and a year later.
It was used as a Covid-19 vaccination center before reopening as a refugee shelter last March.
The visit came about an hour after he became the first British monarch to address the Bundestag in Berlin – and delivered almost the entire historic speech in German – as his state visit grew in strength.
There were nods of approval and several rounds of applause from MPs as His Majesty spoke of the “friendship” between “our nations,” and at times the King looked touched to be there.
Charles also spoke movingly of the Queen’s love for Germany and how much he was touched by the tributes paid to her people after her death last September. He added: “This friendship meant so much to my beloved mother the Queen.”
The king praised Germany for standing up for Ukraine after Russia invaded and said it “threatened” the security of Europe but was “encouraged” by the “unity” that Britain, Germany and other nations shared would have shown.
He also joked about the rivalry between the two countries that has been played out on the football field, including the Lionesses’ recent defeat by Germany’s women at Euro 2022.
There was also an ovation as he spoke of nations’ ability to laugh “with and at each other” and their shared love of sports, literature and music, referring to the Beatles and Kraftwerk.
He said: “In just a few weeks, the amazing music of George Frideric Handel – who was born German and died British – will once again ascend through Westminster Abbey at the coronation, as it has at every coronation since that of my seven-time great-grandfather, King George II ., in 1727′.
But no mention was made of Brexit, only Germany and Britain working together on net zero and renewable energy including wind farms, a personal passion of the king.
Britain’s King Charles addresses MPs in the lower house, the Bundestag, and was met with laughter and thunderous applause as he spoke in German
King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort sign the guest book this morning while Bundestag President Bärbel Bas looks on
King Charles III speaks to the members of the German Bundestag in the Reichstag building
Speaking in both German and English, Charles, 74, said he was honored to renew the bonds of friendship between the two countries as he spoke to dignitaries and German MPs.
He also paid a touching tribute to his mother and thanked Germany for the “deep condolences” expressed by the German people after the Queen’s death.
The king referred to his mother’s first visit to Germany in 1965, when the continent was still “scarred” by war.
And he noted that since his last speech in the Bundestag, the scourge of war has returned to Europe.
He said: “The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has caused so many innocent people the most unimaginable suffering.
“Countless lives have been destroyed, freedom and human dignity trampled on in the most brutal way [and] the security of Europe is under threat.”
But he added that the world “didn’t just stand by” and that “we can take heart from our unity.”
“Germany and the UK have shown crucial leadership,” he said.
“As Europe’s two largest donors to Ukraine, we have reacted decisively. We made decisions that might have seemed unthinkable before.’
This morning the king took home German cheese and his wife Camilla feasted on milk delicacies and honey as the royal couple were greeted by a large crowd in Berlin today.
On the second day of his historic state visit, the British monarch was warmly welcomed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at the Federal Chancellery.
He and Queen Consort Camilla then met at the city’s Wittenbergplatz Food Market.
The royal couple also spoke to a number of local business owners who spoke about the history of the market and the products.
Charles shared a series of big laughs with the crowds and vendors waiting for the pair to sample their sausage, cheese, honey and fresh fruit and veg.
Charles shared jokes with MPs, including about football and music
King Charles III points and laughs as he visits a food market on the second day of his royal tour
Camilla waves and Charles is handed some juice at a stand this morning
Berlin’s Mayor Franziska Giffey, Britain’s King Charles and Camilla the Queen Consort visit a farmer’s market on Wittenbergplatz today
The Queen Consort gives a thumbs up on a visit to the Wittenbergplatz market where they snagged some honey
An armed policeman scans the building around the market
The King and Queen’s state visit to Germany, the first of Charles’ reign, began on Wednesday with a ceremonial welcome in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
The monarch was due to be in France earlier in the week but was canceled by President Macron amid ongoing protests over his pension reforms.
Speaking at a state banquet hosted in his honor on Wednesday night, Charles pledged to “strengthen the ties” between Britain and Germany by recognizing the “enduring value” of the two nations’ relationship.
Germany has taken in more than a million Ukrainian refugees seeking refuge after Russia invaded their home country and Charles will tour the Tegel refugee center to meet some of the group.
Separately, the Queen Consort visits the Refugio House, a meeting place for locals and new Berliners, including refugees.
British Camilla, Queen Consort (L) and Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (R) greet the well-wishers
Camilla tastes some honey
An armed policeman stands guard as Britain’s King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, visit a farmers’ market
King Charles’ trip to Germany was a huge success.
During an impromptu tour yesterday, the monarch was lovingly offered a crown – a crown made of paper – on the occasion of the first official engagement of his state visit to Germany.
He was walking around the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin when he encountered a line of well-wishers wearing “Burger King” crowns given away by the fast-food giant.
A man took off his and tried to hand it to the king, saying politely, ‘This is for you if you want it.’
Charles smiled widely and said, ‘I’m fine!’ Of course he has some real ones at home. He, too, grinned and declined another crown from a woman who said, “I have a gift for you.”
The king was also seen stooping to pick up a man’s cap before returning it to him, with the grateful well-wisher thanking him and bowing.
Charles and Camilla – who posed for selfies with fans – were given a ceremonial welcome at the Brandenburg Gate by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender before the national anthems were played.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz receives the British King Charles III this morning. in the Chancellery in Berlin
Charles jumps out of his royal car as he begins the second day of his historic journey to Germany
Charles and Scholz speak in the Chancellery in Berlin
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are welcomed at the Brandenburg Gate by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender
As a sign of the importance attached to the visit, the couple were treated to a full ceremonial and military reception at this landmark for the first time since World War II. Even Queen Elizabeth II, who also came to Berlin for her last state visit in 2015, was not given this honor.
They were due to fly in from Paris, but the first part of their visit to France was canceled at around 11:00 p.m. by President Macron, amid scenes of major civil unrest in his country. It will be rearranged at a later date.
The king spoke about the cancellation of the visit for the first time this afternoon, telling a reporter it was “very sad”.
In Berlin, Queen Consort wore a colorful turquoise coat and dress by Bruce Oldfield and a jaunty hat by Philip Treacy.
And in a beautifully personal detail, she wore a brooch that belonged to Queen Elizabeth and was given to the late monarch by Queen Mary at her confirmation in 1942.
The far-sightedness of the king in matters of climate change was recognized by Federal President Steinmeier at a green electricity reception in Bellevue Palace.
The monarch followed a translation of the President’s remarks in a booklet and smiled warmly when Mr. Steinmeier repeated them in English.
He also thanked the King for his first state visit to Germany, saying: “This visit, Her Majesty’s first-ever foreign trip as the new King, is a magnificent personal gesture – and I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for that. I look forward to the coming days and the many opportunities to exchange views.”
The monarch has been told work will begin this year on an undersea power cable between the Isle of Grain in Kent and Wilhelmshaven in Germany, and the President added: “This first direct energy link underscores how closely Germany and the UK work together our.” Making economies climate neutral.
“I see this as an encouraging example – just as Her Majesty’s visit to Germany is encouraging.”