Your Majesty is fond of joking - Steinmeier’s UK visit overshadowed by Epstein files and German political turmoil
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is on a high-profile state visit to the UK this week. The trip includes a rare address to the British Parliament and a lavish banquet hosted by King Charles III. Meanwhile, political tensions in Germany and new developments in the U.S. Epstein case have also made headlines.
Steinmeier and his wife were welcomed at Windsor Castle for a state banquet on Monday evening. King Charles III delivered part of his speech in German, lightening the mood with jokes about German humour. He also acknowledged the shared history of the two nations, referencing both world wars.
The following day, Steinmeier will address the British Parliament—a privilege rarely granted to foreign leaders. This honour underscores the close diplomatic ties between Germany and the UK.
Back in Germany, Bärbel Bas, the Federal Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, has faced backlash after criticising business leaders at an employers’ conference. As a key figure in Chancellor Merz’s cabinet and co-chair of the SPD, her remarks have sparked calls for her resignation.
In the U.S., the Department of Justice plans to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein in mid-December. Some sections may be redacted for national security reasons. Democrats have already published photos of Epstein’s private island, revealing a luxurious estate with unsettling details.
Steinmeier’s visit highlights the enduring relationship between Germany and Britain. The upcoming Epstein files could reignite public scrutiny of the case. Meanwhile, Bas’s political future remains uncertain as pressure mounts within her party.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
