Charles, King of comedy
After his warm and witty speech to German MPs, a trip to a cheese factory has monarch in stitches
HE found himself in a rather sticky situation as he valiantly tried to make traditional German cheese – but at least Charles, King of comedy, saw the funny side of things.
During a visit to Brodowin Farm in Brandenburg on the second day of his trip to Germany, the King got a fit of the giggles when he was persuaded to don a white coat and plastic overshoes to join staff in the dairy.
Invited to help spread cheese curd into moulds, he grinned: ‘I’ll do my best.’
But he was reduced to laughter as the mixture ran away with him, pouring faster than he expected out of four metal funnels as he frantically tried to start pushing it into the moulds.
‘I need longer arms,’ he chortled. He started helplessly pushing the curd – which will eventually become traditional German sliced cheese, naturally dyed orange with carrot – as forcefully as he could, and laughing as he did so.
‘Well, they do say it is hand-made,’ he joked.
Although his visit was disrupted by a heavy storm, Charles, 74, was in good spirits – perhaps because he was also presented with a magnificent cake in the shape of a crown, lying on a purple cushion.
The white chocolate and Victoria sponge cake took chef Antje Neumann 21 hours to make and weighed 22 pounds.
‘This is brilliant, it must have taken you weeks. This is seriously good cake,’ he said, tasting it. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier turned to the King and said: ‘It might be the model for your crown!’
Earlier in the day, the King and Queen Consort Camilla visited the Wittenbergplatz organic food market in Berlin, where they met smallholders and well-wishers.
Charles even brought a jar of his own Buckingham Palace honey to swap with one trader for a jar of his produce. ‘It’s probably not as good [as yours],’ the King said modestly.
They were accompanied by cheers of ‘God save the King’ and ‘God save the Queen’ as they walked around the market.
During a packed day of engagements, the couple then split up to visit separate refugee projects, with the King even playing a game of table-football as he met families who had fled the war in Ukraine.
‘I remember trying this when I was younger,’ he said. He gamely offered to have a go, but it didn’t go his way.
He spent time listening to as many stories as possible and told several clients: ‘I’m praying for you.’ Sascha Langenbach, spokesman for the State Office for Refugees, said they were ‘overwhelmed’ by his empathy.
At the start of the day, the King became the first British head of state to address the Bundestag in Berlin in a warm and witty speech, flipping between German and English.
He had Germany’s elected representatives clapping loudly as he highlighted the ‘long and remarkable story of our two countries’, with shared interests in everything from music to football and comedy.
Standing in the packed chamber, and watched by his wife, he said: ‘It means a great deal to both my wife
‘Seriously good cake’
‘Special bond of friendship’
and myself that we have been invited to Germany on my first overseas tour as sovereign, and it is a particular honour to be here with you where I wish to renew the pledge of friendship between our nations.’ He emphasised how far Britain and Germany had travelled together in ‘friendship and peace’ since the two World Wars of the last century.
‘Today, it gives me particular pride to be with you once again, now as King, and to renew the special bond of friendship between our countries,’ he said.
Turning to discuss the Ukraine conflict, he said: ‘The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has inflicted the most unimaginable suffering on so many innocent people... The world has watched in horror – but we have not stood by...
‘As Europe’s two largest donors to Ukraine, we have responded with taking decisions which might previously have seemed unimaginable. Germany’s decision to send such significant military support to Ukraine is remarkably courageous, important and appreciated.’
His 15-minute speech, which one impressed onlooker said was delivered ‘with honour’, earned him a rousing standing ovation from the parliamentary representatives.