The memory of a British monarch visiting Germany is not far off, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were there in 2015. But for Charles III and Camila the trip has a special meaning. They were greeted by crowds excited to see them, greeted countless fans, and passed through lively and symbolic World War II-era events. Each with their own style, both left their mark on this trip: the King was full of intellectual charm and the Queen showed that she had mastered the use of the royal jewelery box.

The destination of the first state visit of a monarch’s reign has a lot of symbolism, and the fact that the chosen destinations were France and Germany was intended to show that Europe is the UK’s diplomatic priority. After her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth II’s first trip was a tour of the Commonwealth countries.

The increasing violence of the demonstrations on French soil led the office of President Macron to postpone the visit of the King and Queen with just a few days notice. However, the trip to Germany continued and, as expected, on Wednesday March 29, Carlos and Camilla landed in Berlin. The Kings traveled on a Royal Air Force (RAF) plane and upon arrival in Germany they were escorted in the air by two German planes, as a sign of respect. The trip passed through two cities, starting in Berlin and ending in Hamburg.

One king, two speeches

Carlos III gave two speeches that will go down in the history of his reign. First, at the state banquet given by the German president on the first night of the trip. In the second, he became the first British monarch to speak in the German parliament, the Bundestag. On both occasions the king spoke in German and was highly praised.

The banquet took place at the Bellevue Presidential Palace, where dignitaries from both countries were present. In this speech, the King promised to strengthen ties with the country that hosted him and praised the “generosity of the spirit of the German people” in welcoming more than a million Ukrainian refugees since the start of the war with Russia, highlighting the “values shared democracies. The speech also included a theme that is especially dear to him, the fight against climate change, and a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

“Throughout all these years, and in many ways, I have been impressed by the warmth of friendship between our nations and the vitality of our partnership in countless areas.”

Her Majesty addresses guests at a state banquet at Bellevue Palace. #RoyalVisitGermany pic.twitter.com/d0KUFISDWs

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 29, 2023

In the German parliament, the King spoke of the historical connection between the two countries. He said it was “difficult to express the pride” he feels in the UK-German relationship and that he hoped to “renew the promise of friendship between the two nations.” Carlos III again referred to the conflict in Ukraine and climate change. He also mentioned World War II and the old rivalry that separates the two countries in terms of soccer, recalling last year’s women’s soccer final.

“Today, I am especially proud to stand with you once again, now as King, and to renew the special bond between our two countries.”

Her Majesty becomes the first British monarch to address the Bundestag in session during #RoyalVisitGermany. pic.twitter.com/7zGApUsPVf

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) March 30, 2023

A feast and many jewels

The state banquet in Berlin at the Presidential Palace called for a true royal look and the queen consort delivered. On the first night of this visit to Germany, Camilla wore a trio of meaningful jewels. Let’s start with the tiara, one of those jewels with a name: Greville tiara, also described for its characteristic beehive effect. The Queen Mother was the one who used it the most, but since Camilla joined the royal family it has become one of her recurring choices. The choice of the queen takes on a sentimental dimension when we remember that King Charles had a strong relationship with her grandmother and therefore, in a way, she marks his presence at this milestone in her new reign.

Stories from the Queen’s Jeweler: Diamonds are forever and stones come from all over the world

The jewel was created by the Boucheron house in 1921 for Lady Margaret Greville, daughter of a beer magnate and his lover who would marry, in 1891, the aristocrat Ronald Greville, a member of the House of Marlborough. This socialite was widowed 17 years after they were married, but she continued to maintain her active life as a socialite, philanthropist and jewelry collector. Margaret Greville was close friends with King Edward VII’s mistress, who was also the current queen consort’s great-grandmother and was even godmother to Camilla’s grandmother, Sonia Keppel. It is a jewel with historical and family ties to both kings. This tiara ended up in Queen Elizabeth II’s mother’s jewelry box, among a host of other pieces. The queen regretted having few of her jewels and with this inheritance she saw her collection increase considerably. She was responsible for ordering the addition of a large diamond and four rows of stones from an old brooch and the alterations were made by the house of Cartier, according to the Telegraph.

A close-up showing in detail the jewelery worn by Queen Camilla at the state banquet in Berlin

The necklace, in turn, brought to mind Queen Elizabeth II. Although it is a 19th century piece, it came to the then Princess Elizabeth as a gift from her for her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947. The City of London fringed necklace was a gift from a group of businessmen. In the first years of her reign, Elizabeth II made this necklace one of her emblematic pieces. According to the British newspaper, the queen used to wear jewelery at dinners and banquets during her trips to Commonwealth countries. But we can also see it hanging from the neck of the monarch in portraits of the moment of her coronation (which took place on June 2, 1953). Camila, a newcomer to the role of queen, has chosen to bring a bit of the sparkle that lit up her mother-in-law even in her early days as sovereign. This would have been the first time anyone other than Elizabeth II had worn this necklace.

The trio of significant royal jewels is completed by the Order of the Royal Family of Queen Elizabeth II. Camilla also wore a pair of diamond earrings and the Star Garter, the Grand Cross (Special Class) of the Federal Order of Merit, which had been presented to her by the President of Germany that day, Tatler says. As if to highlight all these jewels, the queen wore a black dress with silver embroidery. The creation is by designer Bruce Oldfield, who was tapped to design the dress Camilla will wear to her coronation ceremony in May.

The tradition of the breeders

Camilla seems to be the heir to Queen Elizabeth II’s taste for brooches. Throughout this trip, she upheld the former monarch’s tradition of passing messages and tributes with the jewels she wore on her chest. On the second day of her visit to Germany, in which the Kings visited the German parliament, a market and the Komische opera, the Queen wore the same brooch that she had worn at Prince William’s wedding with Kate Middleton. Camilla brought the princes of Wales on this journey through the gold and diamond piece from the jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels.

The queen consort coordinated the Van Cleef & Arpels brooch with similar earrings

On the third and final day of the trip, the Kings took an hour and 45 minutes between Berlin and Hamburg, where they were greeted by the crowd with smiles, handshakes, a boat in a glass bottle and even a giant cookie. Camilla once again brought Queen Elizabeth II on this trip with one of the most significant brooches from the former monarch’s jewelery box. A brooch with a large blue sapphire surrounded by 12 diamonds set in gold, a wedding gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria. The jewel was commissioned by the house of Garrard, supplier of the British crown for many years, and it will have delighted the bride who wore it on her wedding day and turned it into a relic of the crown, that is, it has passed into the hands of of all the queens that followed her (both the sovereign and the consorts), according to the Daily Mail. This was also a tribute to Prince Albert, who was of German origin. The jewel stood out even more in the dark blue coat worn by Camilla, a creation by Anna Valentine, one of the designers of her two wedding looks with Prince Charles, in 2005.

Queen Camilla wearing Queen Victoria’s brooch

Other curiosities remain for the history of this trip, such as the King making cheese. Or the fact that he had the State Bentley waiting for him, according to Hola, which would have been transported by the vehicle’s own brand. When Queen Elizabeth II visited this country in 2015, she also had her Bordeaux car to transport her. This is one of two cars that Bentley offered the former monarch for her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

The King and Queen’s visit to Germany ended this Friday, March 31, at a time when the coronation ceremony is just over a month away.

King Carlos III speaks in the Bundestag and reminds Ukraine: “We must be aware of threats to our values ​​and freedoms”