King Charles & Camilla’s First State Visit to Germany After Cancelation of France Trip Due to Rioting

KING Charles and Camilla are flying to Germany today for the first state visit of his reign.

The royals were due to have boarded their flight at RAF Brize Norton.

The royals have left RAF Brize Norton for GermanyCredit: Reuters

Jetting off this morning, Charles, 74, and the Queen Consort, 75, are expected at Berlin Brandenburg Airport around 1pm.

They will be greeted by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and wife Elke Budenbender before heading to their residence at Bellevue Palace.

Charles is expected to plant a tree on the grounds before a luxurious state banquet this evening.

The tour was due to start on Sunday with a quick flight to France.

However, it was quickly shelved after rioters took over the streets in 50 areas.

The anti-government marches were staged after President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Civil unrest in the country forced Macron to ask the British Government if they could postpone the King’s four-day visit.

Sylvie Bermann, who served as Paris’s ambassador to Britain between 2014 and 2017, said Macron wanted the visit to go ahead “until the last minute”.

She added a planned state banquet at the Palace of Versailles for Charles and Camilla would “not have given a good image”.

Lord Ricketts, a former national security adviser, said the lavish Versailles dinner would have had “echoes” of the French revolution if it was allowed to go ahead.

Charles’ first state visit as King comes at the same time son Harry is battling a case against publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

The Duke of Sussex, 38, is currently in London over allegations the ANL unlawfully gathered information – which have been strongly denied.

The royal was at the High Court on Monday and Tuesday but has not shown up for its third day today.

The hearing is expected to end on Thursday.

And it’s been reported he was told Charles is “too busy” to see him.

It is the first time the Prince is back on home soil since the Queen’s funeral last September.

Despite his six-month absence, it’s understood a trip to see the King and brother William will not be on the cards.

It’s understood the King or William will not meet up with Harry during his brief visit to LondonCredit: Getty