London, United Kingdom – Buckingham Palace has confirmed that His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla will host German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender for a state visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, December 3 to Friday, December 5, 2025. The visit marks the first German presidential state visit to Britain in 27 years and only the fifth since 1958.
The announcement was made via the Royal Family’s official social media channels, underscoring the significance of the occasion in strengthening Anglo-German relations. The visit follows a series of high-profile diplomatic engagements hosted by the King this year, including French President Emmanuel Macron in July and U.S. President Donald Trump in September.
President Steinmeier, who attended the Coronation of Their Majesties in May 2023, has maintained close ties with the British monarchy. His upcoming visit builds on a longstanding relationship that includes King Charles’s historic address to the Bundestag—the German federal parliament—where he received a standing ovation for pledging to “renew the friendship between our nations.”
During their previous visit to Berlin, the King and Queen attended a state banquet at Schloss Bellevue Palace and expressed deep appreciation for Germany’s hospitality. “Germany is so close to our hearts,” they said in a joint statement, adding, “We hope to return again soon.”
King Charles has visited Germany more than 40 times, a testament to the depth of bilateral ties. Reflecting on his frequent travels, he remarked, “Over all these years, I have been struck by the warmth of the friendship between our nations and the vitality of our partnership in countless areas.”
While the full itinerary for the December visit has yet to be released, Buckingham Palace has indicated that the program will include a ceremonial welcome, a state banquet in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, and bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The visit is expected to highlight shared priorities in climate action, trade, cultural exchange, and European security. It also comes at a time when King Charles continues to fulfill a demanding schedule of engagements while undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness.
