The Germans – fortunately – have not known for decades grandiose gatherings and pompous events. For three days, however, they mobilized every symbolism and every gesture in order to show King Charles III of England how much they honor him and how important his visit is to them. He, for his part, may not have planned it, but he finally made Germany his first visit abroad as monarch – and made no secret of the fact that he felt right at home.

The king he was to visit first France and then Germany. Normally, the images from the Champs-Élysées would surely be more televised than the thankless and rather miserable reception at the Brandenburg Gate. The demonstrations and riots in Paris, however, did not offer a suitable setting for a royal visit, so the honor went to the Germans. The message anyway was the same: Britain may have left the European Union, but it has not left Europe. And the timing for the re-approach couldn’t be more appropriate.

During the three days of the visit, the “firsts” they succeeded each other: the customary military honors were accorded to the city’s most important monument, the Brandenburg Gate, instead of the presidential palace Bellevue. And the ceremony may have lacked glitz, but it was something that hasn’t happened for another foreign head of state. The next day Charles became the first monarch to address the Bundestag. He made every effort not to look out of place. His speech had it all: good German, repeated thanks – acknowledgment of his honor, jokes about beers, sausages, the Beatles and football, emotion for his mother, references to Britain and Germany’s support for Ukraine. Of course, there was no shortage of reactions. The Left called the king’s speech “out of place and time” and expressed its strong opposition, because “the highest democratic body bowed to a monarch.” I find it strange that “in times of inflation and rapidly increasing poverty, the Bundestag needs someone who was literally born with a golden spoon in his mouth,” said party leader Martin Sirdevan.

The third day of King Charles III’s visit held yet another “first”. In Hamburg, the monarch became the first British official to visit the St. Nicholas Memorial, the destroyed church, which is dedicated to the more than 35,000 victims of the 1943 US-British bombing of the city as part of Operation Gomorrah. Proof of how British a city Hamburg is is the fact that the church was designed by the British George Gilbert Scott, architect of the Foreign Office building in London.

Among the political events, the British monarch visited organic farms, took part in a conference on the energy transition, traveled by train (even paying for the ticket), learned about the environmentally friendly management of the port of Hamburg and, in general, showed so much that climate protection remains high on his priorities and that he considers the Germans to be pioneers in the field. In addition, at his request, he met with Ukrainian refugees living in Germany. At the same time, the royal wife Camilla did exactly what was expected: she visited schools, read fairy tales, met people hosted in a non-governmental organization “shelter” in Berlin, exchanged handshakes and smiles, always staying half a step back.

The importance of the visit

But does a king’s visit to Germany really matter nowadays? Or does it run out of etiquette, sideshows and gourmet menus? The truth is that Charles’ visit had a far greater impact than a visit by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is likely to have at this time. For better or worse, Charles is much more recognizable, attracts attention and cameras, and is certainly a powerful soft power “tool” at the disposal of the British government. “On trips like this, theater counts more than substance,” former ambassador Tom Fletcher told the BBC.

In fact, Charles has undertaken in 2023 a mission similar to that undertaken by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in 1965: to rebuild the bridges that have been torn down. Brexit was certainly not as traumatic as the war, but it caused deep wounds in Britain’s relations with Europe and especially with Germany, which took the hardest line in the process. The war in Ukraine rewarmed the relationship, as Britain and Germany became the biggest supporters of Ukrainians in Europe. “We share stories, culture and values. It means a lot to me that I am in Germany on my first official visit abroad – especially because I can speak here and renew our commitment to the friendship of our countries”, the British monarch emphasized in the Bundestag and no one of course understands that his words have not received the approval of Downing Street.

Many in London have been waiting for the king’s debut abroad, to see if the new monarch can … fill the shoes of his predecessor and live up to the role of ambassador for his country. He, of course, unlike his mother who found herself young and unprepared on the throne, had over …seventy years to train and, at least in Germany, proved that he could successfully balance royal protocol, political demands – possibly of the …demeanor of a “common mortal”, although he looked more like an …eccentric uncle from London. Politicians, media and citizens greeted the British monarch enthusiastically and took pride in his German and direct references to his family’s German roots, while listening with great satisfaction to praise for their stance on Ukraine. For Charles and his country, the mission, within its strictly defined limits, was successfully completed. For the Germans? Britain is an important partner, but in the end, only 8% would like a monarchy in Germany (Forsa Institute).