UPDATE - British King Charles begins visit in Germany

UPDATES WITH OFFICIAL WELCOMING CEREMONY, EDITS THROUGHOUT

BERLIN (AA) - British King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla arrived in Berlin on Wednesday on their first overseas state visit.

The royal couple was received with military honors by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at the capital's landmark Brandenburg Gate.

Hundreds of people lined up at the historic center of the city to watch the ceremony, many of them were carrying German and British flags.

Charles shook hands and had short conversations with crowds standing behind the barricades. Many people also took photographs of the rare encounter.

In the evening, President Steinmeier will host a state banquet at Bellevue Palace in honor of the king and queen consort, at which both heads of state will give a speech.

During the three-day visit, King Charles will also meet Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and is scheduled to address the German parliament on Thursday.

Charles and Camilla will also visit a refugee center in the former Tegel airport and talk to Ukrainian refugees.

The royal couple will travel to the northern German city of Hamburg on Friday.

The royal visit comes at a time when the UK and the EU are seeking closer ties, three years after Britain's exit from the bloc.

“The state visit of King Charles and his wife Camilla is seen by many as a rapprochement with Europe and Germany - after the alienation caused by Brexit,” German public broadcaster ARD reported.

Steinmeier said the visit prior to the coronation ceremony on May 6 testifies to the close friendship between the UK and Germany.

"This state visit is all the more special because the King decided to come to us in Germany even before his coronation. This timely visit underscores the close and warm friendship between our countries and our people,” he said in a statement.