Prince Charles calls on Britain and Germany to 'reaffirm' their bond to 'defend the future we owe our children and our grandchildren' after jetting in on £1million makeover ministerial RAF jet
Prince Charles will call on Britain and Germany to 'reaffirm' their bond and make striving for a 'better tomorrow' their 'common cause' during a ceremony marking Germany's National Day of Mourning on Sunday.
Charles and Camilla jetted into Schönefeld - just south of Berlin - in the ministerial plane RAF Voyager this evening ahead tomorrow's event - and were greeted on the tarmac at Brandenburg Airport by Britain's ambassador to Germany Jill Gallard.
The royal couple are the first dignitaries to fly in RAF Voyager since aircraft's £1 million paint job which saw it transformed from grey to white - with a Union flag on the tailfin and United Kingdom written in gold on the fuselage.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's presence at a ceremony for Volkstrauertag - known as Germany's National Day of Mourning - will be the first time members of the British monarchy will join guests at the country's remembrance event.
In a speech at the Bundestag - which comes as the end of Britain's transition period draws ever nearer - Charles will say that Britain and Germany are set to 'begin this new chapter in our long history'.
Brexit negotiators warned little had been achieved in discussions this week as they revealed a new deadline of next Thursday to make a deal before a virtual summit of EU leaders.
Prince Charles (pictured arriving in Germany with Camilla) will call on Britain and Germany to 'reaffirm' their bond and make striving for a 'better tomorrow' their 'common cause' during a ceremony marking Germany's National Day of Mourning on Sunday
Charles and Camilla jetted into Germany in the ministerial jet RAF Voyager this evening ahead tomorrow's event - and were greeted on the tarmac at Brandenburg Airport by Britain's ambassador to Germany Jill Gallard
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall's (pictured arriving in Germany) presence at a ceremony for Volkstrauertag - known as Germany's National Day of Mourning - will be the first time members of the British monarchy will join guests at the country's remembrance event
The royal couple are the first dignitaries to fly in the ministerial jet RAF Voyager since aircraft's £1 million paint job which saw it transformed from grey to white - with a Union flag on the tailfin and United Kingdom written in gold on the fuselage
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The prince will also say that the global crises of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change 'demand' that Britain and Germany 'act together'.
The trip is Charles and Camilla's first joint official overseas visit since the start of the pandemic.
The prince is expected to say in his speech: 'We must be resolute in addressing acts of unspeakable cruelty against people for reasons of their religion, their race or their beliefs, wherever they occur in the world. We must stand alongside each in determined defence of the future we owe our children and our grandchildren.
'The challenges to that future are manifest - whether from this dreadful pandemic which threatens not just our public health but our prosperity and security; or from the existential threat to our planet, and our way of life, from climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss.
In a speech at the Bundestag - which comes as the end of Britain's transition period draws ever nearer - Charles (pictured arriving in Germany with Camilla) will say that Britain and Germany are set to 'begin this new chapter in our long history
The Prince of Wales and Camilla are welcomed by the British ambassador to Germany Jill Gallard when they landed at Berlin Brandenburg Airport
The prince (pictured arriving in Germany with Camilla) will also say that the global crises of the coronavirus pandemic and climate change 'demand' that Britain and Germany 'act together'
Charles and Camilla will become the first members of the royal family to attend Germany's remembrance ceremony in Germany on Sunday
The visit to Berlin is the couple's first joint official overseas visit since the start of the pandemic. Pictured: Charles and Camilla arrive at Berlin Brandenburg Airport
The prince (pictured arriving in Germany) is expected to say in his speech: 'We must be resolute in addressing acts of unspeakable cruelty against people for reasons of their religion, their race or their beliefs, wherever they occur in the world. We must stand alongside each in determined defence of the future we owe our children and our grandchildren'
The Prince (pictured arriving in Germany) will say: 'The challenges to that future are manifest - whether from this dreadful pandemic which threatens not just our public health but our prosperity and security; or from the existential threat to our planet, and our way of life, from climate change and catastrophic biodiversity loss'
The royal family has carried out a string of European visits since the 2016 referendum result decided the UK would leave the EU. Pictured: Charles and Camilla arriving in Germany
Charles and Camilla's latest trip (pictured arriving tonight) is likely to be viewed as part of the monarchy's 'soft diplomacy' to renew and strengthen friendships with countries on the continent
Ahead of his trip, Prince Charles (pictured stepping out of the plane) held a telephone meeting with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday
Clarence House announced the brief visit to Germany (pictured arriving tonight) earlier in the week and said in a statement the couple had been invited by the president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Germany, ahead of a their visit to commemorate the National Day of Mourning
'These crises demand that we act together, and the partnership between the United Kingdom and Germany offers such a vital opportunity in this regard. We are heavily invested in each other's futures, such that our national interests, whilst distinct, will always be entwined.
'As our countries begin this new chapter in our long history, let us reaffirm our bond for the years ahead.
'Let us reflect on all that we have been through together, and all that we have learned. Let us remember all victims of war, tyranny and persecution; those who laid down their lives for the freedoms we cherish, and those who struggle for these freedoms to this day. They inspire us to strive for a better tomorrow - let us make this our common cause.'
The royal family has carried out a string of European visits since the 2016 referendum result decided the UK would leave the EU, and this latest trip is likely to be viewed as part of the monarchy's 'soft diplomacy' to renew and strengthen friendships with countries on the continent.
The official Twitter account for Charles and Camilla shared a picture of the prince to mark his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated on Saturday
Charles and Camilla (pictured on the tarmac) flew in the ministerial jet RAF Voyager, the first time it has flown VIPs since a makeover costing almost £1 million
An RAF spokesman confirmed the prince and his wife (pictured stepping into a car) were the first VIPs to use the plane since it was repainted
A birthday cake was presented to the prince during the flight to Germany (pictured after they landed) this evening and shared among his household, and he is expected to mark his milestone privately with Camilla
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are seen greeting people along a red carpet after they landed in Germany
The Prince of Wales was lead down a red carpet at Berlin Brandenburg Airport after he and Camilla arrived in Germany
When Charles' son the Duke of Cambridge visited Germany in 2016, William said that the depth of Britain's friendship with Germany will not change after Brexit.
Camilla wore a blue coat, a floral face mask and had her hair down as she stepped off the plane
Ahead of his trip, Prince Charles held a telephone meeting with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday.
The official Twitter account for Charles and Camilla shared a picture of the prince to mark his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated on Saturday.
In the autumnal snap, the heir to the throne is wearing a kilt and smiling towards the camera as he stands next to a tree.
A birthday cake was presented to the prince during the flight to Germany this evening and shared among his household, and he is expected to mark his milestone privately with Camilla.
Clarence House announced the brief visit to Germany earlier in the week and said in a statement the couple had been invited by the president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
The statement added: 'Their Royal Highnesses will also attend the wreath-laying ceremony at the Neue Wache Memorial, before joining the Central Remembrance Ceremony at the German parliament, where the Prince of Wales will deliver a speech.
'The National Day of Mourning will this year focus on the German-British friendship, which has grown in the 75 years since the end of the Second World War.
'The event pays tribute to the Allied commitment to the liberation from Nazi occupation and to the reconstruction, re-democratisation and subsequent reunification of Germany. It remembers all victims of war and tyranny.'
Charles and Camilla flew in the ministerial jet RAF Voyager, the first time it has flown VIPs since a makeover costing almost £1 million.
Prince Charles coordinated with his wife and wore a blue tie, dark blue face mask and navy coat as the couple arrived in Berlin
Charles and Camilla were seen stepping out of ministerial jet RAF Voyager. Their trip marked the first time it has flown VIPs since a makeover costing almost £1 million
The couple were seen disembarking the plane. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously complained about the military paint scheme used on the jet
When not carrying ministers and members of the royal family (Prince Charles and Camilla after travelling on the plane, pictured) on official foreign trips the plane, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, acts as a 'petrol station in the sky' flying air-to-air refuelling operations
A birthday cake was presented to the prince during the flight to Germany (pictured after he landed with British ambassador to Germany Jill Gallard) this evening and shared among his household. Clarence House announced the brief visit to Germany earlier in the week
An RAF spokesman confirmed the prince and his wife were the first VIPs to use the plane since it was repainted.
He added: 'Since its livery was updated, the VIP Voyager has continued to operate as part of the RAF's Air to Air Refuelling fleet, supporting operations and training. As air travel begins to return to normal, the aircraft will also be used for VIP flights.'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously complained about the military paint scheme used on the jet.
When not carrying ministers and members of the royal family on official foreign trips the plane, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, acts as a 'petrol station in the sky' flying air-to-air refuelling operations.