Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage; Chris Jackson/Getty Images
On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced that the King, 74, has become Colonel-in-Chief of the Corps of Royal Engineers.
“Commonly known as the Sappers, the Corps was founded in 1716 and gained the prefix Royal in 1787. They operate at the forefront of innovation to provide global military engineering and technical support to the British Armed Forces and their allies,” the palace said in astatementof Charles' new appointment.
The announcement came with a photo of the King meeting Chief Royal Engineer, Lieutenant General Sir Tyrone Richard Urch at Buckingham Palace Tuesday.
The men had much to talk about, as the monarch is due to meet representatives from the Corps of Royal Engineers in Brandenburg, Germany during thefirst overseas visitof his royal reign, starting on Wednesday.
While plans remain unchanged for King Charles andQueen Camilla’s trip to Germany, theywill no longer be visiting Franceas planned. It was announced last week that the royal couple postponed the French leg of the tour due to increasingly violent riots across the country. Members of the public are protesting PresidentEmmanuel Macron’s plan to raise the retirement age, andCNNreports that Monday marked the tenth day of nationwide action.
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“The King and The Queen Consort’s State Visit to France has been postponed,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement last Friday. Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found."
The royal visit to France had been highly anticipated, glamorously capped with a glittering state banquet at Versailles.
King Charles and Queen Camilla.Chris Jackson/Getty
The King and Queen Consort are set to visit Berlin, Brandenburg and Hamburg between Wednesday and Friday. They will receive a ceremonial welcome from President Steinmeier and Frau Büdenbender at the Brandenburg Gate (the first time any visiting head of state has received such a welcome at the site). The couple will also be guests of honor at a State Banquet, while King Charles will address the federal legislature, the Bundestag.
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The Queen Consort and Frau Büdenbender are set to visit the Komische Opera in Berlin to learn more about the company’s outreach projects and community engagement. While in Brandenburg, King Charles will meet reps from the Corps of Royal Engineers and see a demonstration of their bridge-building amphibious vehicles.
King Charles and Queen Camilla.Andrew Milligan/Getty
It is now the couple’s only scheduled trip abroad ahead ofCharles and Camilla’s May 6 coronationin London.
The tour was planned to “celebrate the U.K.’s relationship with France and Germany, marking our shared histories, culture and values,” a palace spokesperson said when the visit was announced earlier this month.
source: people.com
