King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been warmly thanked for hosting an "unbelievable" state banquet in honour of the visiting German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife, Elke Budenbender. The lavish white-tie dinner, held at Windsor Castle, formed the centrepiece of the German head of state's three-day official visit to the United Kingdom.
A Royal Farewell and Heartfelt Thanks
As the visit drew to a close on Thursday, the two couples were pictured saying their goodbyes. President Steinmeier turned to the King and expressed his profound gratitude, stating, "You were so generous, inviting us, the staying of the night – we had a good breakfast and a wonderful banquet yesterday." His wife, Elke Budenbender, added with evident delight, "It was really so wonderful – unbelievable," a sentiment the president immediately echoed, promising, "We will never forget it."
The Queen and Ms Budenbender shared a kiss on the cheek as they parted. "It was so wonderful, all the best," said the president's wife. Camilla replied, "Hopefully see you again before too long – really lovely to see you again," before extending the hope to the president himself: "I hope we’ll meet again." As he walked to his car, President Steinmeier turned to wish his royal hosts a "Happy Christmas," receiving a final wave from the King and Queen.
St George's Hall Plays Host to German Stars
The grand banquet was held in the castle's imposing St George's Hall on Wednesday evening. The guest list was a testament to the depth of German contributions to British life, featuring prominent figures from business, culture, and sport. Attendees included supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her filmmaker husband Sir Matthew Vaughn, Oscar-winning movie-score composer Hans Zimmer, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse.
Guests were treated to a sumptuous menu featuring hot smoked trout with langoustines, followed by Windsor partridge. The dessert was a classic baked Alaska, served with blackberry, vanilla, and raspberry ice creams, all accompanied by fine wines.
Festive Spirit and Charitable Engagement
Earlier in the visit, the royal couple embraced the festive season by showing their guests a historic royal sleigh. The winter wonderland sleigh, originally designed by Prince Albert in 1842 as a gift for Queen Victoria, was restored six years ago. Ms Budenbender exclaimed "wow" upon seeing it, touching its vivid red upholstery as she learned of its history.
The visit also had a strong charitable focus. A large group of charities, many with royal patronages, gathered at Windsor Castle to showcase their work. At one stand, run by the organisation Citizen Hub, both couples were invited to play a giant game of snakes and ladders. They rolled a large foam dice and answered questions based on the square they landed on.
When asked about a time she had helped someone, Queen Camilla referenced her longstanding campaign work, saying she hoped she had helped victims of domestic violence, adding "I hope I have" several times. King Charles politely declined to answer a question about facing a challenge differently, discreetly pointing to the press corps who were listening in.
In a symbolic gesture, all four also drew around their hands to create paper handprints at a Scouts stand, representing the act of "lending a hand" by volunteers. The event, marked by warmth, pageantry, and shared interests, successfully underscored the strong and multifaceted relationship between the UK and Germany.
