The royal couple outside Wednesday's banquet

King Charles impresses onlookers as he reveals secret skill

The British monarch also made history!

Online Digital News Director
March 30, 2023

King Charles made history on Wednesday as he gave the first state banquet speech of his reign.

The monarch and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, have travelled to Germany together for a three day stay in the country.

And Charles certainly impressed onlookers as he revealed a secret skill during his address. Watch his speech here...

King Charles gives first speech in Germany since becoming King

The 74-year-old spoke in German during his banquet speech, much to the delight of guests. And he elicited laughter from the room when he at the white-tie event when he referenced a British comedy sketch hugely popular in Germany called Dinner for One.

The show is about an elderly aristocrat who dines alone while her waiter gets progressively more drunk as he consumes alcohol poured for her missing dinner guests.

© BERND VON JUTRCZENKA

King Charles laughs as he talks to Angela Merkel

The mention of the sketch, which has been watched by millions of Germans every New Year's Eve since 1973, raised a laugh in the room as His Majesty told them in German: "It is nice of you all not to have left me alone with a 'dinner for one!'"

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Charles also joked about the footballing rivalry between the two nations, saying: "Even football was an English invention that the Germans were all too keen to take on. And although not every game is a friendly, it is good that these days German and British rivalries are only ever played out on the football pitch."

© Samir Hussein

The King certainly impressed guests at the banquet

Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, meanwhile, had a touching gift to present to His Majesty.

He reminded Charles that he had "a close personal relationship with Germany" and presented him with a touching photograph of the King as a boy with his late father, Prince Philip.

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Mr Steinmeier said: "At the tender age of 13, you came to Germany – with no official welcome, no press, no photographers. And yet there is a captivating photo, a snapshot of you together with your father, Prince Philip, as you arrive at Frankfurt airport.

© Samir Hussein

King Charles and Queen Camilla ahead of the state banquet

"A young journalist, at that stage a mere trainee, took the photo on the tarmac. And it gives me great pleasure to present you with this photo to remember this special moment today, 61 years on, as a sign of your longstanding close bond with our country."

To mark the historic visit, Charles was presented with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1st class, which he wore on the night.

Camilla, dressed in a black evening dress by Bruce Oldfield, wore her Grand Cross – special class – of the Order of Merit, also presented by the German head of state.

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