On December 3, 2025, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier embarked on a historic three-day state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by a German head of state in nearly three decades. The visit, marked by symbolism, warmth, and a touch of British pop culture, underscored the renewed sense of partnership between the two nations after years of uncertainty following Brexit.
The ceremonial opening at Windsor Castle set the tone for the visit. King Charles III and Queen Camilla received President Steinmeier and his wife, Elke Budenbender, with all the grandeur befitting a state occasion. The evening’s banquet in the castle’s imposing St George’s Hall was a glittering affair, attended by luminaries from both countries—supermodel Claudia Schiffer, composer Hans Zimmer, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Motsi Mabuse among them. Guests enjoyed a menu of hot smoked trout with langoustines, Windsor partridge, and baked Alaska, all washed down with fine wines, according to BBC and other outlets. As the festivities concluded, Steinmeier expressed heartfelt gratitude, telling the King, “You were so generous, inviting us, the staying of the night – we had a good breakfast and a wonderful banquet yesterday.” His wife, echoing the sentiment, added, “It was really so wonderful – unbelievable.”
The next morning, before departing for London, the royal couple showed their German guests Queen Victoria’s winter sleigh, a vivid red, plush vehicle designed by Prince Albert in 1842. Elke Budenbender was visibly impressed, exclaiming “wow” as she admired the restored upholstery, a reminder of the deep historical ties between the two royal families.
But the visit was not just about pageantry. On December 4, Steinmeier addressed MPs and peers in the House of Parliament’s Royal Gallery, delivering a speech that deftly blended humor, pop culture, and diplomatic candor. Drawing a parallel between the famously feuding Oasis brothers’ reunion and UK-Germany relations post-Brexit, he remarked, “Don’t Look Back in Anger, as one of the most famous songs by Oasis puts it so well.” Steinmeier acknowledged the disappointment and confusion that followed Britain’s decision to leave the European Union in 2016, but emphasized that both sides had chosen “not to stay stuck in these feelings.” Instead, he urged a pragmatic, forward-looking approach: “I think that is typically British, keep calm and carry on – look ahead pragmatically, move on.”
Returning to his Oasis metaphor at the end of his speech, Steinmeier noted the band’s recent sell-out reunion tour after 16 years of acrimony, calling it “the greatest pop event of the past decade.” He declared, “Cool Britannia is alive! Our relations may have changed, but, my dear Britons, our love remains. So let us look not to the past, but rather together to the future.” These remarks, reported by France 24 and Sky News, were widely interpreted as a call for reconciliation and renewed cooperation.
The German president’s itinerary was carefully curated to highlight shared cultural touchstones and moments of remembrance. Steinmeier and his wife, joined by UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, visited the Victoria and Albert Museum’s David Bowie Centre. The exhibit, featuring some of Bowie’s iconic costumes and instruments, was a nod to the musician’s deep ties to Berlin in the 1970s—a period when Bowie’s creativity flourished in the German capital. According to BBC, Steinmeier’s visit to the museum symbolized the enduring cultural connections that transcend political change.
Later that evening, the couple attended a banquet at the historic Guildhall in the City of London, hosted by Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley and attended by the Princess Royal. In his address to business leaders and dignitaries, Steinmeier praised the innovative spirit of London’s financial district, the so-called Square Mile, and urged Europe to rediscover its self-confidence and competitiveness. “In future, we Europeans can only be strong if we redefine our role and discover a new self-confidence,” he said, as reported by AFP. He lauded Europe’s “capital, talent, infrastructure... legal certainty,” and called for the continent to “catch up in the digital economy” and “regain its self-belief,” suggesting the City of London could serve as a model.
Steinmeier’s speech also highlighted concrete steps taken to strengthen UK-Germany ties since Brexit. He praised the July 2025 Kensington Treaty, which marked closer security and defense cooperation, and referenced the May 2025 EU-UK summit aimed at reducing trade barriers. Among the practical projects cited were the forthcoming German-British electricity interconnector, scheduled for completion in 2028, and new youth mobility agreements designed to make it easier for students to study and travel between the countries. These initiatives, he argued, are vital in an era shaped by global uncertainty and the ongoing repercussions of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine—the largest land war in Europe since World War II.
The theme of remembrance was ever-present. On December 4, Steinmeier and his wife laid a wreath at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, honoring those who died in World War One without burial. The act was a poignant reminder of the shared sacrifices and the importance of reconciliation. The final day of the state visit, December 5, was to see Steinmeier visit the ruins of Coventry Cathedral, bombed by the German air force during World War Two, in a powerful gesture of atonement and healing. The visit mirrored King Charles’s trip to Hamburg in 2023, where the British monarch laid a wreath to remember German civilian victims of Allied bombing raids—a reciprocal act of remembrance that has become a cornerstone of the two nations’ postwar relationship.
Steinmeier’s itinerary also included receiving an honorary degree from Oxford University and learning about the latest medical research at the institution, further underscoring the academic and scientific ties between Germany and the UK.
Throughout the visit, Steinmeier’s message was clear: while Brexit altered the formal relationship between Britain and the European Union, the bonds of history, culture, and shared values endure. With references to Britpop, royal tradition, and recent diplomatic breakthroughs, the German president sought to chart a course for pragmatic cooperation and mutual respect. As he so memorably put it, echoing the lyrics of Oasis, the goal is “not to look back in anger,” but to face the future together—side by side, as partners in a changing world.
