Why the Germans think Charles is wunderbar! Local media and crowds go wild for the King

Germans have taken King Charles to their hearts because many adored the Queen and respected her own love for Germany, a country she has visited more than 40 times since she was 13, royal experts and distant relatives said today.

Since Charles and the queen consort arrived in Berlin yesterday and proceeded to the Brandenburg Gate, they have been warmly greeted by large crowds everywhere they have gone.

Alexander von Schönburg, who is married to Prince Philip’s great-niece Princess Irina of Hesse, has said Charles always wanted Germany to be the destination of his first state visit, not France as planned this week.

Charles’ environmental campaign also resonates with Germans, he said.

‘Charles is very close to Germany. He sees us as pioneers in climate and environmental protection. He has been here more than 40 times, including with his relatives,’ Count von Schönburg said, adding: ‘I know from a very reliable source that he wanted Germany to be the destination of his first state visit as a sign of his singular love for our homeland’.

Royal biographer Tom Bower told MailOnline: “The Germans are pro-British, they admired the Queen and respected Charles’s many interests in environmental architecture and especially alternative medicine.” His German family relations resonate a lot, especially in Hamburg and Berlin. He has a natural affinity for educated Germans.

This afternoon, Charles became the first British monarch to address the Bundestag and spoke almost entirely in German, describing his love for the country he first visited at age 13.

And last night he was at a state banquet in his honour, attended by several of his relatives, where the King was offered organic chicken instead of vegetarian options washed down with German sparkling wine, which he clearly enjoyed.

The trip has been hailed as a triumph by the German media, with the Bild tabloid enjoying how the King “was enthused by his German roots and his love of German culture.” They also stated that he and Olaf Scholz, the German president, enjoyed several positive talks on sustainability, environmental protection and climate change.

Experts have said that the trip is very important for the UK as it tries to improve its relationship with the EU, especially with the Germans.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘Charles has been to Germany more than 40 times. It’s a boost for Anglo-German relations to see how delighted their hosts are to see him.

“The undoubted success so far of the first state visit of King Charles’ reign shows once again that royal visits are an exceptionally powerful way of projecting British soft power.

‘Charles is highly respected in Germany and this visit is symbolic of a new attitude in Anglo-German relations that looks to the future while paying tribute to the past.

“The king seems entirely at ease, whether arriving at a welcoming ceremony, speaking at a state banquet, or taking a walk. Queen Consort Camilla is clearly the perfect match for him and what she accomplished in her long apprenticeship in the role of Prince of Wales has earned him respect.

‘The royal family is also more comfortable with their German background, the King’s German relatives attended the banquet. It is particularly important for Germany that, after Brexit, relations with Great Britain now look to the future.

“This is reflected in the tour itinerary which includes the first speech by a British monarch to the Bundestag and the symbolic importance of this is immense. The Queen first paid a state visit to Germany in 1965 and she also went to Germany for her’ last full state visit.

In his speech to the Bundestag today, the King celebrated the “special bond” between the UK and Germany by becoming the first British monarch to address the Bundestag during his historic state visit to the country.

Speaking in both German and English, Charles said he “could hardly begin to express the pride” he felt in the relationship between the two countries and spoke fondly of his “cherished” family ties to Germany.

He also thanked the country for its kindness following the death of his mother, the late Queen.

He said: ‘Today, I am especially proud to stand with you… and renew the special bond between our two countries.

“This friendship meant a lot to my beloved mother, the late Queen, who often spoke of her 15 official visits to Germany, including her five state visits.

‘The first of these, in 1965, occurred when our continent was still deeply scarred by war and the trauma of conflict. Hers was the wartime generation, and like my father, the queen had served in uniform.

‘That my parents’ 11-day tour of Germany turned out to be a pivotal moment in reconciliation between our nations was therefore a matter of great personal importance to both of us.

‘My mother understood what an immense achievement reconciliation represented, and by returning to Germany again and again, she was determined to play her own part. It is, perhaps, for this reason that her late Majesty gained a particular place in the affection of the German people.’

Joking about the Lionesses’ victory over Germany at Euro 2022, the monarch hailed it as “just one example of how our countries, together, can set a compelling example to the world.”

“Faced with so many shared challenges, the UK and Germany together provide leadership to secure our shared future,” he added.

The King also referred to leadership on climate change before concluding: “In the long and remarkable history of our two countries, there are many chapters yet to be written. Let us fill them with the tireless search for a better tomorrow. The legacy of our past and the great promise of our future demand nothing less.

However, not everyone was delighted with the visit. Jan Korte, a lawmaker from the opposition Left party, said he did not agree with Germany’s democratic tradition for Charles to address the country’s highest political body, the Bundestag.

“A king is not elected,” Korte told public broadcaster ZDF. “He Obviously he can speak everywhere and he’s very welcome, even for me, but I think particularly in the Bundestag, which is about representing the people, it’s not really appropriate for a monarch to speak.”