The state visit of the British King Charles III and his wife Camilla is, many believe, a re-alignment of Europe and Germany, after the estrangement due to Brexit. British conservatives even call him "the king of Europe".
More than half a century has passed since Elizabeth II's first visit to Germany in 1965 marked the end of the immediate post-war period and the beginning of German-British reconciliation. Charles III is in Berlin from today, on his first visit as the new king. The historical ties between Germany and Great Britain are again in the spotlight, but this time in a completely different way: as a rapprochement again after the estrangement caused by Brexit.
Some conservative media in Great Britain write that Charles III arrives in Germany as a "European king" and that his close, personal ties with Germany should enable him to improve the closeness of London and Berlin.
The state visit also suits the new British Prime Minister
That visit is a state visit, not only because according to the constitution it is organized at the behest of the British government, but also because it probably suits the new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that way. He took gradual rapprochement with the European Union as his main task, in order to improve the condition of the British economy shaken by Brexit.
Last Sunday, the so-called The "Windsor Framework", the agreement with Brussels on the eternally disputed Protocol for Northern Ireland. It was the first big step towards re-establishing mutual trust and closer cooperation.
It is a compromise that Sunak rightly considers his first major political success after assuming the office of prime minister. This, however, also implies a difficult balancing act for him, because a large part of his party has a hard time accepting the necessity of re-approaching the European Union.
Radical proponents of Brexit criticize the meeting with von der Leyen
The dispute arose when, at the end of February, Sunak wanted to hire the new king for a "charm offensive" ahead of the negotiations on the Protocol for Northern Ireland and when he announced the possibility that the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, would be received at Buckingham Palace.
The right-wing, pro-Brexit media claimed with outrage that this was a violation of the constitution, which provides for the neutrality of the British crown. Radical Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Modge even stated that it is "constitutionally unreasonable" to drag the king into a political controversy, because the president of the European Commission is not, after all, officially the head of a country.
But Sunak stood his ground and von der Leyen was received at Buckingham Palace, although a little later than originally planned - namely only after he and the president of the European Commission announced in Windsor that a compromise had been reached.
Charles III is not a "blank slate"
Unlike his mother, who came to the throne at a young age, Charles III is not a "blank slate". He already has a long life behind him, even as a political activist. And that's why for him, controversies, such as this one surrounding politics after Brexit, are not harmless.
He has been advocating for climate protection for decades, which today may pass as a cross-party mission to save the planet Earth, but in some other areas his involvement so far is clearly at odds with the policy of the British government, which is increasingly right-wing populist.
His many foundations, such as The "Prince's Trust", which takes care of socially neglected people, Charles' regular meetings with refugees and politically persecuted persons, do not suit the government which wants to soon abolish the basic right to asylum with draconian laws and which is therefore openly discussing leaving the European Convention on Human Rights . This is a step that so far in the whole world, only Russia and Belarus have taken.
The power of the British king is not small
Of course Charles knows all too well the king's political and general beliefs can only be guessed at. He mentioned it in his first public speech after the death of his mother. He is officially Britain's head of state, but the British monarchy is constitutional, which means it has to be as neutral as possible.
But a king can signal, discreetly and indirectly, and Charles seems intent on doing so. When Liz Truss banned him from traveling to the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Conference (COP27) last fall, he subsequently invited a reception at Buckingham Palace for the Climate Conference. And they all came. And the British government. The power of the British king is not small and he can put topics on the agenda in such a way. Because who else will refuse an invitation to come to the royal palace?
An environmentally engaged prince popular in Germany
And this visit to Germany is a sign of the topics that the new British king has been dealing with throughout his life. On Thursday morning, he will visit the Center for Ukrainian Refugees in Berlin's Tegel district, and that will also be a signal sent to London.
When Charles III meets German farmers who produce organic food on the Wittenbergplatz square or when a reception is held at Bellevue Castle under the slogan "Energy turnaround and climate protection", then it is clear that Charles as a monarch wants to fulfill his role more concretely and politically more involved than his late mother.
No controversies are expected in Berlin and Hamburg in the coming days. On the contrary, the environmentally committed Prince of Wales has been more popular in Germany than in Great Britain for decades. That is why it will be all the more interesting to see how the king's visit to Germany will be experienced in his homeland.
The "European king", who, on the orders of his government, is trying to slowly smooth out the controversies of the Brexit years? It certainly won't go down well with the Tories at least.
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