King Charles is hosting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender for a three-day state visit to the UK, culminating in a star-studded banquet at Windsor Castle tonight. The event marks the first German state visit in 27 years and only the fifth since 1958.
The menu, written in French as tradition dictates, features a starter of open tartlet of hot smoked trout with langoustines, quail eggs and shellfish sauce. The main course is Windsor Partridge Supreme wrapped in puff pastry with confit cabbage and Port sauce, accompanied by crushed carrots with swede and winter vegetables.
Dessert is Baked Alaska with blackberry, vanilla and raspberry ice creams, followed by coffee and Petit Fours. A special cocktail inspired by Black Forest gateau has been created, and Château La Fleur-Pétrus, Pomerol, 1995 wine will be served, marking the year of the President and First Lady's wedding.
The state visit began this morning with the Prince and Princess of Wales greeting the German president and first lady at Heathrow Airport. They were then driven in a ceremonial carriage procession through Windsor, escorted by ceremonial troops, with crowds lining the streets decorated with German and British flags.
The procession ended at Windsor Castle's Quadrangle, where President Steinmeier inspected the troops alongside King Charles as the band played Beethoven's 'Marsch des Yorck’schen Korps'. This is the third inward state visit for King Charles this year, following those for French President Emmanuel Macron in July and US President Donald Trump in September.
