King Charles III and his wife Camilla will travel to France and Germany from March 26 to 31 for their first state visits to “celebrate the relationship” between Britain and the two countries, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, as quoted by AFP.

King Charles IIIPhoto: Paul Ellis/WPA Pool/Shutterstock Editorial/Profimedia

The trip, dominated by environmental concerns, is their first overseas trip since Charles, 74, became king on September 8.

As crown prince, he has already made 34 official visits to France and 28 to Germany.

“This visit will celebrate Britain’s relationship with France and Germany, celebrating our shared history, culture and values,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

“It will also provide an opportunity to look into the future and showcase the many ways Britain is working in partnership with France and Germany,” continued the Palace, referring to the fight against global warming and the response to the conflict in Ukraine.

Charles III, who speaks French, and Camilla will be in France from March 26 to 29. In Paris, they, together with President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, will take part in a commemorative ceremony near the Arc de Triomphe. The King will make a speech in the Senate.

On March 27, a state banquet is planned in their honor at the Versailles Castle. On March 28, Charles and Camille will travel to Bordeaux in the southwest. The King will visit areas devastated by last summer’s fires and visit an organic vineyard.

Refugees and green technologies

In Germany, between March 29 and 31, the royal couple will visit Berlin and Hamburg. Charles III will address the Bundestag, Germany’s federal parliament. He will meet with refugees who recently arrived from Ukraine.

In Hamburg, the king, who is passionate about sustainable development, will discuss green technologies.

Charles III’s first state visits will take place a few weeks before his coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. They will take place a few days after the first visit to France by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on March 10.

Charles’ last visit to France as Crown Prince was in 2019, when he attended a service at Bayeux Cathedral to mark the 75th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

The Times called the visit “an attempt to build bridges with Britain’s European neighbors after Brexit.”

Elizabeth II, who was French-speaking and Francophile, made five state visits to France during her reign, in addition to numerous private visits.