London, 4 December 2025 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Britain's King Charles III has said the UK and Germany are ready to "bolster Europe" against the threat of further Russian aggression and both nations "stand" with Ukraine.

Charles spoke as tensions between Europe and Russia appeared to intensity this week after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev's European allies of sabotaging US-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

The King's comments were made during a Windsor Castle state banquet staged in honour of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and in a lighter moment the King quipped about his nation's football prowess, saying "in the end, the Germans win."

Charles told guests seated in St George's Hall: "With regard to shared defence, our German-British Bridging Battalion at Minden - which I visited during our state visit two years ago - is literally building bridges, a unique partnership at the heart of NATO."

"And more broadly, of course, the United Kingdom and Germany together stand with Ukraine and bolster Europe against the threat of further Russian aggression."

The Russian president has rejected changes proposed by Ukraine and Europe to a draft peace plan as unacceptable, and he also said Moscow was "ready" for war with Europe, comments dismissed as "sabre-rattling" and "claptrap" by the UK Government.

Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were guests of honour at the dinner marking their three-day state visit while others present included German supermodel Claudia Schiffer and her filmmaker husband Sir Matthew Vaughn.

Other famous names with German heritage or connections included movie-score composer Hans Zimmer, Strictly Ballroom judge Motsi Mabuse, who lives in Germany, and Axel Scheffler, the illustrator behind popular children's book The Gruffalo.

Charles told the banquet guests who included Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prince and Princess of Wales: "It is 36 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall - a momentous event in human history."

"The tumultuous period of political, social and technological change that happened after that has tested our values. Many have found that unsettling and even frightening. Fear can lead to anger and resentment."

"But the United Kingdom and Germany are united in a continued belief in democracy, freedom and the rule of law," Charles added.

The King spoke large parts of his speech in German and touched on a subject important to both nations - football.

Among the guests was German former footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger, who played for Aston Villa, the Premier League team supported by William, and England Lioness Georgia Stanway.

The King said: "Football is of course another shared endeavour, and I am delighted to see so many of the footballing fraternity around the table with us here this evening."

"Of course, I use the word 'shared' in the broadest meaning of the word: there was, one has to admit, some element of truth in the famous description of football as a game where 11 people play 11 people, and then, in the end, the Germans win!"

Earlier, Starmer described relations between the UK and Germany as very strong as he welcomed the German president to London.
Co-operation on migration and trade were going "from strength to strength," Starmer asserted at a meeting at Downing Street.

Starmer and Steinmeier shook hands beside the Christmas tree outside No 10 before going inside for talks.

At the top of the meeting, Steinmeier said the UK-German relationship is in "far better shape" than in "the difficult days" after the Brexit vote.

The King, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate gave a warm welcome to the German president at the start of his historic state visit Wednesday morning.

Steinmeier and his wife were met by the king and queen in the chilly open air, outside Windsor and Eton Riverside train station, with Windsor Castle as the backdrop.

Charles is hosting Steinmeier on the first state visit to the UK by a German leader in 27 years.

Photo: dpa