King Charles avoids mention of Brexit in speech to German parliament

Monarch says he wants to renew special bond of friendship' between countries, in speech delivered in English and German

King Charles said he wanted to renew the special bond of friendship" between the UK and Germany, without mentioning the B-word that has caused the friendship to grow cold in recent years, as he addressed the Bundestag in Berlin on Thursday.

The monarch's speech in front of Germany's federal parliament was the first by a non-elected head of state. It was pitched as a celebration of cultural commonalities and joint ventures past and present - from a shared love of music and comedy to energy and security cooperation - and an attempt to repair ties that have fractured since the Brexit vote seven years ago.