Charles and Camilla welcomed to Berlin in first state visit as King and Queen Consort

Before touching down in Berlin, German Typhoon fighter jets flew alongside the RAF voyager to escort the Royal party.

Upon arrival at the Berlin-Brandenburg government airport, Their Majesties paused at the top of the aeroplane steps for the 21-gun salute, fired from nearby field guns.

Two military jets carried out a fly past.

The Queen Consort, wearing a turquoise Bruce Oldfield dress and coat with a matching Philip Treacy hat, walked down the steps behind the King.

Her Majesty wore a brooch from the late Queen which was a given to her by Queen Mary on her 1942 confirmation.

At the bottom of the steps the King and Queen Consort were introduced to Dorte Dinger, State Secretary; Mr Till Knorn, the chief of German Protocol at the Foreign Ministry; and Jill Gallard, the British Ambassador to Germany.

The King and Queen Consort then walked along a red carpet flanked by a Guard of Honour provided by the Federal Defence Forces of Germany.

The King and Queen Consort were introduced to other dignitaries, including His Excellency Miguel Berger, German Ambassador to the UK, before departing for the Brandenburg Gate where they received a full ceremonial welcome watched by crowds of well-wishers. It is the first time that a head of state has been formally welcomed at the Brandenburg Gate.

During an afternoon reception at Palace Bellevue, the German president’s official residence, Mr Steinmeier lauded Charles for his long-time commitment to creating a more sustainable world.

“You are, quite literally, the driving forces behind the energy transition,” he said. “You are helping to make the world a better place.”

Charles met with German government ministers, experts and advocacy group representatives during the reception. A white tie dinner was being held at the presidential palace on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, the king is scheduled to give a speech to the Bundestag, Germany’s parliament. He will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, talk to Ukrainian refugees, and meet with British and Germany military personnel who are working together on joint projects. In the afternoon he will visit an organic farm outside of Berlin.

The royal couple plan to go to Hamburg on Friday, where they will visit the Kindertransport memorial for Jewish children who fled from Germany to Britain during the Third Reich, and attend a green energy event before returning to the UK.

The trip has been partly overshadowed by the postponement of the French leg of the European tour, which was shelved by President Emmanuel Macron last Friday after violent nationwide protests against the French leader’s retirement age reforms.

The decision was made amid reports the King may have been targeted during further demonstrations planned by protestors to coincide with 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,” the King and his wife said in a joint statement.

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