Advertisement

Audience laughs as King Charles cracks a joke while giving speech in German

Guests laughed when King Charles referenced the ‘Dinner for One’ sketch, which is hugely popular in Germany.

King Charles III attends a state banquet held by Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Bellevue Palace, in Berlin, Germany, March 29, 2023.    Ian Vogler/Pool via REUTERS
King Charles attended a state banquet at the Bellevue Palace, in Berlin, Germany, on Wednesday. (Reuters)

King Charles drew laughs from guests during the first state banquet speech of his reign on Wednesday – which was partly delivered in German.

On a historic day, the King and Camilla, the Queen Consort received an official welcome in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of peace and unity and the first time the location has been used to greet a foreign head of state.

Germany’s president Frank-Walter Steinmeier warmly welcomed Charles and Camilla as their first state visit began, heralding a deepening of the post-Brexit relationship between the two countries.

Charles responded by delivering the first part of his speech in German.

The King drew laughs from guests at the white-tie event when he said: “Und es ist schön von Ihnen, dass Sie gekommen sind und mich nicht mit einem Dinner for One alleine lassen!”

That part of his speech saw Charles tell guests it was “nice not to have left me alone with a Dinner for One” – referencing the title of a British comedy sketch hugely popular in Germany.

Dinner for One sees elderly aristocrat Miss Sophie dine alone while her butler James gets progressively more drunk as he consumes alcohol poured for her missing dinner guests – who have all previously died.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and his wife Elke Buedenbender, left, welcome Britain's King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. King Charles III arrived Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Germany. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, right, and his wife Elke Buedenbender, left, welcome King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. (AP)

Originally filmed in 1963 and starring British actor Freddie Frinton, the black and white sketch has has been watched by millions of people across Europe, including in Germany, every New Year’s Eve since 1972. Some die-hard fans even copy Miss Sophie's meal during its broadcast.

The King also joked about his age, telling guests that he had visited Germany over 40 times, which he said was a measure “of just how long I have been around”.

What Charles said in German:

“Sehr geehrter Herr Bundespräsident,

“Ich weiss nicht, wie ich Ihnen für Ihre überaus freundlichen Worte und für Ihre unvergessliche Gastfreundschaft in diesem festlichen Rahmen danken soll.

“Es ist wunderbar, heute Abend in so grosser Gesellschaft zu sein. Und es ist schön von Ihnen, dass Sie gekommen sind und mich nicht mit einem Dinner for One alleine lassen!

“Meine Frau und ich sind tief gerührt, wie herzlich wir in Deutschland empfangen wurden – genau wie bei jedem unserer früheren Besuche in diesem ganz besonderen Land.

“Ich habe festgestellt, dass ich tatsächlich mehr als vierzigmal in Deutschland gewesen bin – darin zeigt sich natürlich, wie wichtig mir unsere Beziehungen sind, aber auch, so fürchte ich, wie lange es mich schon gibt.”

Translation:

“Mr President,

“It is hard to know how to thank you enough for those tremendously kind words, as well as for your unforgettable hospitality this evening in such a magnificent setting.

“It is wonderful to be in such large company tonight. It is nice of you all, not to have left me alone with a Dinner for One.

“My wife and I have been so deeply touched by the warmth of the welcome that has been extended to us in Germany – just as we have on each of our previous visits to this very special country.

”Remarkably, I realise I have visited Germany more than 40 times – a measure of the importance of this relationship, of course, but also, I fear, of just how long I have been around!

“From each visit I have retained the most treasured memories, which I recall with great affection.”