German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is on a state visit to the United Kingdom, meeting King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer to bolster bilateral relations. In a speech to the British Parliament, he quoted the Oasis song 'Don’t Look Back in Anger' to symbolize a forward-looking approach. The visit underscores the improvement in German-British ties following Brexit.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's state visit started on Wednesday at Windsor Castle. There, he met King Charles III and Queen Camilla alongside his wife Elke Büdenbender. In the Green Drawing Room, the couples viewed exhibits with German ties, including works by Albrecht Dürer and Hans Holbein, as well as editions of Schiller and Goethe. Charles spoke in German several times, highlighting the Royals' historical links to Germany.
That evening, a banquet took place in St. George’s Hall with 152 guests. The table was shortened to accommodate a large Christmas tree. Notable attendees included Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing, BMW executive Oliver Zipse, footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger, BioNTech co-founder Uğur Şahin, and writer Durs Grünbein. The King offered Steinmeier a custom cocktail evoking Black Forest cherry cake, paired with a 1995 red wine from the couple's wedding year. Charles' speech opened in German, praising his great-great-grandfather Albert's contributions.
On Thursday, Steinmeier met Prime Minister Keir Starmer and delivered a speech in Parliament's Royal Gallery – a rare honor, last granted to Richard von Weizsäcker in 1986. He praised British democracy and debate culture: "We Germans have learned from you: from your partnership in loving freedom, from your parliamentary tradition." Steinmeier concluded with the Oasis quote: "Don’t Look Back in Anger," urging a shared forward gaze, referencing the band's reunion. The visit builds on the July 2025 Kensington Treaty and signals rapprochement after 27 years without such a presidential trip. Later, the couple visited the V&A Museum; Steinmeier gifted an umbrella.