International News

The president of Germany will visit the UK later this year, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The visit by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, from 3 to 5 December, will be the first German state visit to the UK in 27 years.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the visit at Windsor Castle as Buckingham Palace is undergoing renovations.

Such state visits are used to reinforce alliances and to encourage trade, with the German trip following last month's state visit by US President Donald Trump.

State visits are a mix of political and business meetings, alongside royal pageantry and a diplomatic red-carpet welcome, with a banquet, military parade and carriage rides.

The visit follows a treaty between Germany and the UK signed in the summer, known as the Kensington Treaty, which agreed to create a direct rail link between London and Berlin, as part of measures bringing the countries closer together.

There are plans for more cultural ties such as school exchanges, stronger military links, business investments and joint efforts to tackle illegal migration and people smuggling.

The King and Queen will be returning the hospitality to President Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender for their own visit to Germany in March 2023, in what was the first overseas state visit of the new reign.

That first visit as King proved to be a diplomatic success, with the King making a well-received speech to the German Bundestag in Berlin, where he spoke about the importance of Germany's efforts in supporting Ukraine after the invasion by Russia.

In a symbolic moment of reconciliation, he also went to Hamburg where he laid a wreath remembering those who had died in the Allied bombing of the city during the Second World War.

The last German state visit to the UK was in December 1998, by President Roman Herzog, where he became the first head of state to visit Windsor Castle after the fire of 1992.

Queen Elizabeth II hosted the visit and her state banquet speech spoke of the importance of both countries belonging to international organisations, "headed by the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation", which helped "to extend our reach and achieve goals which would be impossible on our own".

In that 1998 speech, which would have been written with the advice of the government, she also expressed the hope that Germany would become a permanent member of the UN Security Council - which so far has not happened

The announcement of the 2025 German state visit adds to what is already a busy autumn schedule for the King, who is still undergoing cancer treatment.

The King and Queen will be travelling to meet Pope Leo next week, for a rearranged state visit to the Vatican. A previously planned visit was postponed because of the ill-health of the late Pope Francis.

 The prime minister has arrived in Egypt ahead of an international peace summit where the peace plan for Gaza is due to be signed.

Sir Keir Starmer will pay "particular tribute" to US President Donald Trump at the gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh, Downing Street has said.

A ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a ceasefire agreement and hostage return deal brokered by Trump, with the next phases still to be negotiated.

The US president will lead Monday's summit alongside Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, with leaders from more than 20 countries in attendance, a spokesman for Sisi said.

Under the deal, Hamas has until 12:00 (09:00 GMT) on Monday to release all Israeli hostages - including 20 who are believed to be alive, and the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.

Israel should also release around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while increased amounts of aid should enter the Strip.

Many details for the later phases, which would be negotiated after the successful completion of phase one, could be hard to reach agreement on - such as the governance of Gaza, the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarming of Hamas.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday to attend an international summit focused on securing a lasting peace agreement for Gaza. The meeting brings together leaders and representatives from more than 20 nations in a renewed push to stabilize the region after months of conflict.

The summit, co-hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, aims to finalize the first phase of a U.S.-brokered peace plan that includes a temporary ceasefire, release of hostages, and increased humanitarian access to Gaza.

Speaking ahead of the talks, Starmer emphasized the UK’s commitment to supporting peace efforts and rebuilding Gaza. “The United Kingdom stands ready to play its part in ensuring stability and hope for the people of Gaza and the wider region,” he said.

As part of its contribution, the UK government announced a £20 million humanitarian aid package to provide clean water, sanitation, and medical support in Gaza. Starmer also confirmed that Britain will host a follow-up international conference in London later this year to coordinate long-term reconstruction and recovery plans.

Diplomats say the discussions in Egypt are expected to move from immediate ceasefire arrangements to broader issues, including Gaza’s governance and security in the post-conflict period. Proposals under consideration involve establishing a transitional governing body and deploying a multinational peacekeeping force to ensure stability.

While the summit marks a significant diplomatic moment, challenges remain. Hamas has declined to attend, and observers warn that any agreement will need sustained international backing to prevent a return to violence.

The Sharm el-Sheikh summit is being viewed as a critical step in transforming the current ceasefire into a durable peace — a goal that has eluded negotiators for decades.