King Charles III will make his first state visits as monarch to France and Germany, highlighting Britain’s efforts to repair ties with its European neighbors after years of strained relations caused by Brexit.
Buckingham Palace announced Friday that Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, will visit the European Union’s two largest countries from March 26 to 31, hosted by Presidents Emanuel Macron of France and Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany.
According to the palace, they intend to commemorate the nations’ shared history and values, commitment to environmental preservation, and cooperation in the Ukraine conflict.
The fact that it will be the first state visit by a British monarch since 2015 emphasizes the significance of the trip, as the late Queen Elizabeth II stopped traveling abroad in her later years.
The trip is announced just days after Charles met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Windsor Castle and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a breakthrough in talks to resolve the dispute over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements.
