German State Visit to the UK: 3–5 December 2025

[Izzie]

Is this something new? The heirs releasing a gala photo of just themselves.
I think they did it during the last state visit too.

Must be new. I have not seen other heir couples do this tbh. Does not seem like either received a German order either. Strange. Heirs usually do. And Charles is very antiquated with not giving the spouse of the head of state an order. All others do, even if a lower order than the head of state. Comes across so misogynistic as it is only related to female spouses. I think the rule should be if the female spouse does not receive an order, then neither should Camilla - it is called a reciprocal exchange of orders.

Yes the did it during the last 2 State Visit from France and the US.
So this way we finally get official Gala pics from them, which we haven't had so far

But from every state visit? Not even heads of State and their spouses release individual photos from each state visit. I mean not even Charles and Camilla do that and they are the current King and Queen.

 

[Stefan]

And Charles is very antiquated with not giving the spouse of the head of state an order. All others do, even if a lower order than the head of state. Comes across so misogynistic as it is only related to female spouses. I think the rule should be if the female spouse does not receive an order, then neither should Camilla - it is called a reciprocal exchange of orders.

But this was also not done with Philip who always got foreign Orders, despite foreign Queens and First Ladies getting nothing

 

[sophie25]

But from every state visit? Not even heads of State and their spouses release individual photos from each state visit. I mean not even Charles and Camilla do that and they are the current King and Queen.

Was that picture taken in Forrest Lodge or somewhere in the castle

 

[Saragli]

I'm glad the Wales couple have started this tradition of releasing a photo. I hope they start doing it for the Diplomatic Corps too. One of the biggest complaints is that we don't get to see them looking royal very often and this provides a clear picture of those rare occasions.

It's really nice to see Claudia Schiffer, she is still looking sensational, anyone know why she has such a prominent spot at the banquet table?

 

[doro]

Not surprised that Catherine hasn't got one. After all the german First Lady also did not get a british Order. But i would have thought William would get it.

She did not debuted her CH insignia yet...

 

[HRHHermione]

I'm glad the Wales couple have started this tradition of releasing a photo. I hope they start doing it for the Diplomatic Corps too. One of the biggest complaints is that we don't get to see them looking royal very often and this provides a clear picture of those rare occasions.

It's really nice to see Claudia Schiffer, she is still looking sensational, anyone know why she has such a prominent spot at the banquet table?

I think it’s just that she’s a prominent German celebrity who now lives in the UK. Someone who highlights links between the countries.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

But this was also not done with Philip who always got foreign Orders, despite foreign Queens and First Ladies getting nothing

The British RF has always treated male spouses differently from female spouses… At least royal male spouses…

Prince Henrik of Denmark had three british orders… He recived one during each danish-british state visit during QMII’s reign… Queen Ingrid got none despite being half-british… Of the 3 dutch prince consorts Hendrik had one, Bernhard had two and Claus had one… Queen Maxima got none…

That’s the part of the british honours system that i do not like at all…

 

[Stefan]

The British RF has always treated male spouses differently from female spouses… At least royal male spouses…

Prince Henrik of Denmark had three british orders… He recived one during each danish-british state visit during QMII’s reign… Queen Ingrid got none despite being half-british… Of the 3 dutch prince consorts Hendrik had one, Bernhard had two and Claus had one… Queen Maxima got none…

That’s the part of the british honours system that i do not like at all…

And what about husband's of female Presidents?

 

[tommy100]

I think it’s just that she’s a prominent German celebrity who now lives in the UK. Someone who highlights links between the countries.

Indeed, they always invite famous people with links to both countries. Interestingly she is technically "Lady Vaughn" as her husband, film director Matthew Vaughn, was knighted in 2024.

(He actually changed his name by deed poll to Drummond so she may be Lady Drummond but the Gazette lists him as Matthew Vaughn so we'll go with that for now)

Other famous people invited include:

Axel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo books and other works - German born, UK based)

Motsi Mabuse - judge on UK Strictly Come Dancing, lives in Germany

Georgia Stanway - England Lioness player who also plays for Bayern Munich

Thomas Hitzlsperger - former footballer

Hans Zimmer - German born composer, BAFTA winner

​

 

[akina21]

Indeed, they always invite famous people with links to both countries. Interestingly she is technically "Lady Vaughn" as her husband, film director Matthew Vaughn, was knighted in 2024.

(He actually changed his name by deed poll to Drummond so she may be Lady Drummond but the Gazette lists him as Matthew Vaughn so we'll go with that for now)

Other famous people invited include:

Axel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo books and other works - German born, UK based)

Motsi Mabuse - judge on UK Strictly Come Dancing, lives in Germany

Georgia Stanway - England Lioness player who also plays for Bayern Munich

Thomas Hitzlsperger - former footballer

Hans Zimmer - German born composer, BAFTA winner

​

She's also a judge on the German version .

 

[Hans-Rickard]

And what about husband's of female Presidents?

The only incoming state visits by female presidents during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was to my knowledge the indian state visit in 2009 by President Pratibha Patil and her husband Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat (where no stately orders seems to have been exchanged in either directions) and the state visit by the then South Korean president Park Geun-hye in 2013 (who was unmarried).

A state visit to Iceland took place in 1990 but the then President Vigdis Finnbogadottir was unmarried during her entire presidency…

No state visits was made during Tarja Halonens presidency in either directions…

So i don’t think there is any male spouse of a female president that has recived a british order..

 

[Mbruno]

Indeed, they always invite famous people with links to both countries. Interestingly she is technically "Lady Vaughn" as her husband, film director Matthew Vaughn, was knighted in 2024.

(He actually changed his name by deed poll to Drummond so she may be Lady Drummond but the Gazette lists him as Matthew Vaughn so we'll go with that for now)

Other famous people invited include:

Axel Scheffler (illustrator of the Gruffalo books and other works - German born, UK based)

Motsi Mabuse - judge on UK Strictly Come Dancing, lives in Germany

Georgia Stanway - England Lioness player who also plays for Bayern Munich

Thomas Hitzlsperger - former footballer

Hans Zimmer - German born composer, BAFTA winner

​

Hans Zimmer, BAFTA and Oscar winner by the way.

 

[hereditarytitles]

He also got 4 Grammys and two Emmy awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

[tommy100]

Of course he did. But the BAFTAs are British, the Oscars and Grammy's aren't. I was simply pointing out each persons conenction to Germany or the UK.

 

[victor1319]

Why are the Queen Camilla and Princess Kate wearing blue as a colour the whole day? Is this a nod to Euroland?

 

[VictoriaB]

The Queen wore a green evening gown.

I cannot say why the Princess of Wales chose the colours she did.

 

[An Ard Ri]

From last nights State Gala at Windsor Castle
Royal Tiaras at the German State Banquet at Windsor Castle
See Every Tiara Worn at the German State Banquet in the UK
Princess Kate steals the show at State Banquet alongside Prince William and King Charles – best photos

Windsor Castle looked splendid last night and the sheer size of that Christmas tree!

 

[Alison H]

The Queen's evening gown was green.

Blue seems to be Catherine's favourite colour. She very often wears blue, and dresses the children in blue as well.

 

[victor1319]

The Queen wore a green evening gown.

The Queen's evening gown was green.

To me it looks blue, perhaps a shade of turquise...

So, thank you for your responses!

I hope, it is my laptop and not my eyes...

 

[Stefan]

The Duchess of Wellington was also present. She can be seen at 2.37 in the Video posted by @An Ard Ri

 

[Hallo girl]

To me it looks blue, perhaps a shade of turquise...

So, thank you for your responses!

I hope, it is my laptop and not my eyes...

Photographs do not always show the exact colour, also the lights in the venue, can alter the image. For me it looked turquoise but blues and greens can merge.

 

[Marengo]

Lovely to have the King try his hand at part of the speech in German. it is clear he doesn´t speak it a lot but it is friendly of him to try.

 

[hereditarytitles]

I agree. When he was in Germany in 2023, he gave a rather long speech in German in parliament, and he didn't do badly at all.

 

[muriel]

Was that picture taken in Forrest Lodge or somewhere in the castle

Frogmore House.

Why are the Queen Camilla and Princess Kate wearing blue as a colour the whole day? Is this a nod to Euroland?

Both the Queen and the Princess do wear a lot of blue, so it is not a total surprise at all.

 

[iceflower]

Here are some first photos of the second day today, December 4:


** gettyimages gallery: GBR: State Visit By The President Of The Federal Republic of Germany - Day 2 **

 

[An Ard Ri]

Video from Day 2
The king and President attend a Special Volunteering Reception

 

[sophie25]

Frogmore House.


Both the Queen and the Princess do wear a lot of blue, so it is not a total surprise at all.

Oh, I wonder why they went over to Frogmore House to take it. I wonder who is using FH at this time, there was a Christmas tree up so it must be getting used for something.

 

[muriel]

Oh, I wonder why they went over to Frogmore House to take it.

Perhaps Forest Lodge is still work in progress, and Frogmore House is not far from them.

 

[iceflower]

The final day of the state visit today, December 5.

The Duke of Kent toured the old Coventry Cathedral with the Presidential couple:


** gettyimages gallery: GBR: State Visit By The President Of The Federal Republic of Germany - Day 3 **

https://twitter.com/x/status/1996953392514560456

 

[sophie25]

Perhaps Forest Lodge is still work in progress, and Frogmore House is not far from them.

Well I meant as opposed to their own house, wherever that is right now.