Palace highlights King Charles' impact on German president

King Charles and Queen Camilla alongside German President Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender joined a reception in partnership with The Big Help Out to showcase the positive impact of volunteering in communities, said Buckingham Palace.

A statement issued on Thursday said, "The reception, which took place in the Inner Hall at Windsor Castle, brought together volunteers from different organisations."

"The Big Help Out was first launched in 2023, during The King’s Coronation weekend, to encourage people to get involved with volunteering."

The palace said, "The Big Help Out has inspired Federal President Steinmeier to launch Germany’s very own volunteering day “Ehrentag”. The first nationwide “Ehrentag” will take place on May 23, 2026 – the anniversary of the German Basic Law."

King Charles welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday at the start of his three-day state visit to Britain.

The trip is the first state visit by a German President for 27 years and comes two years after Charles went to Germany for what was his first official overseas trip after he became king in September 2023.

The British monarch and his wife Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife Elke Büdenbender in Windsor before they took part in a carriage procession to Windsor Castle along with the king's son Prince William and his wife Kate.