A British-German Feast
On the King's State Banquet for the German President
Sitting in my study and looking back on the week, Wednesday now appears a little surreal. On that day, King Charles III was hosting a State Banquet for the German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and I was invited. A high-level diplomatic evening at Windsor Castle was always going to appeal to a historian’s mind, but I don’t think I was the only one who walked out of the Henry VIII gate that night feeling warm and fuzzy despite the chill of a clear December night.
To put the occasion and my excitement about it into context, this was the first German state visit in 27 years. When the last one took place in 1998, I was a teenager attending a small-town school east of Berlin, hoping to become a zookeeper one day. In other words, these events are rare.
They don’t always happen at Windsor either, and of those that do, very few happen in the festive season. The pool of people who have seen St George’s Hall in full seasonal decoration, complete with a 20-foot Christmas tree and featuring a fully set-up banqueting table for around 150 people, is very small indeed.
The weather played ball, too. When I arrived on the old diesel train that runs from Slough to the quaint Windsor & Eton Central railway station, the sun was shining. The town’s cobbled streets looked magnificent, lined in the German and British colours. In the evening, that clear sky allowed a magnificent big moon to douse Windsor Castle in silver light as guests — all dressed in White Tie — made their way up to the pre-banquet reception.
An eclectic mix of people shuffled in. Historians like myself were joined by politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and celebrities like Claudia Schiffer. For the dinner itself, I was flanked by Richard Benyon, Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Culture Minister Lisa Nandy, film composer Hans Zimmer and a German Foreign Ministry official.
The polished mahogany tables shone under flickering candlelight. Everywhere I looked were things to fill a historian’s heart with delight: suits of armour, portraits, shields representing the Knights of the Garter. The room spoke of centuries of heritage.
And yet, for all the ceremony, what really struck me was the warm atmosphere. The German delegation — many of them seasoned veterans of state visits — seemed genuinely awed. I heard many murmurs of delight and appreciation for the way protocol had been turned into something very special.
The pomp wasn’t just for show. This was soft power in action, starting with the carefully curated menu featuring elements of British and German cuisine, complemented by a specially formulated cocktail evoking the classic Black Forest gateau. The King delivered part of his warmly received speech in German, wrapping important political points such as the need for Western countries to support Ukraine in gentle humour.
The trappings of royalty played an indispensable role in making the evening a diplomatic success. The glittering tiaras and the careful choreography lent the occasion a unique elegance and a sense of history that made the guests feel valued. The presence of the King, the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the royal family conjured a kind of gravitas that no modern reception can hope to match.
When toasts were made, and the King spoke of shared history and renewed friendship, I saw faces soften. Neither he nor the German President were afraid to speak of a difficult past of war and enmity as both offered personal recollections of important moments of reconciliation. Steinmeier isn’t generally given to emotionality and flowery speeches. But even he spoke of fond memories of listening to the BBC as a teenager in West Germany, “falling asleep to the sound of the British National Anthem” when the programme ended.
Leaving Windsor Castle late that evening, I stepped into the crisp night and back into a world where headlines about royal scandals often dominate the news. But inside those ancient walls, the royal family’s unique blend of history, dignity and hospitality reminded me just how valuable an asset their soft power remains. In an uncertain world, sometimes diplomacy isn’t about formulaic speeches or itemised agreements. Sometimes it’s about candlelight, carriage rides and shared laughter under a lavishly decorated Christmas tree.
If you’d like to see some footage of the event, take a look here.
This article is an extended version of a piece I wrote for The Telegraph.
As I said elsewhere Katja the event and setting looked spectacular. And repeating myself your reward for a great deal of hard work. As you say these events are so important in cementing important relationships in these difficult days. I hope our politicians took advantage of the opportunity to firm up agreements on defence and economic cooperation in behind the scenes meetings. Notwithstanding the passage of time when you look back and consider the history of strife between the UK and Germany I still find events such as this remarkable. Congratulations Katja, what next I wonder?
It's a good thing that events like this are happening, given that Friday night the Trumpscum Traitors declared war on Europe with their National "Security" Strategy they released at midnight, knowing what response it would get. Europe now needs to consider the government of the United States as much an enemy as is Putin. For our part, we have to End These People. Fortunately, like all fascists, they're fucking morons. But the next eleven months are going to be as important as any between 1939-45.
Oh, and congratulations to you, Katja. You have "arrived" with this. It's always good to see someone who deserves to win, winning.