The wife of Germany's president has brought a touch of festive magic to a primary school in south-east London, reading a Christmas story to delighted pupils as part of a major diplomatic trip.
A Historic State Visit Begins with Schoolchildren
Elke Budenbender, the spouse of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, made a special stop at the bilingual Judith Kerr Primary School in Herne Hill. This visit marked the opening day of the couple's three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by a German president in 27 years.
The King and Queen are personally hosting President Steinmeier and Ms Budenbender at Windsor Castle until Friday. The school, named after the celebrated German-born British author Judith Kerr, who wrote The Tiger Who Came To Tea, provides its lessons in both German and English.
Carols, Cake, and Storytelling
Ms Budenbender, a former judge, was treated to a performance by the school choir. The children sang a German Christmas carol, with the president's wife joining in enthusiastically from her seat. She praised the pupils, saying, "Thank you so much. (They have) been really difficult songs and you did wonderfully."
The visit continued with a relaxed session of tea and cake shared with some of the children. Ms Budenbender then read the story Jim's Spectacular Christmas to the gathered pupils. She read the tale first in German and then in English, with the children occasionally helping her with English pronunciation or word definitions.
An Exchange of Literary Gifts
The event concluded with a symbolic exchange of books. Ms Budenbender presented the children with new books for their school. In return, the pupils gifted her an illustrated biography of their school's namesake, Judith Kerr.
Later on Wednesday evening, Ms Budenbender was scheduled to join President Steinmeier, the King, and the Queen for a lavish state banquet. The event will be held in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, which has been decorated for the season with a magnificent six-metre Christmas tree. The tree, grown in Windsor Great Park, is adorned with an impressive 3,000 sparkling lights.
