The King and Queen played a game of snakes and ladders, created paper handprints and admired a Victorian royal sleight with their German guests this morning. On the second day of the German state visit, the first to be held in the UK for 27 years, Charles and Camilla invited charity volunteers to Windsor Castle to showcase their work.
It marked the first time an engagement has been held in the Inner Hall of the castle. Feeling refreshed after staying at the Castle following last night’s glittering state banquet, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender paid a poignant visit to the tomb of Queen Elizabeth II in St George’s Chapel.
They then reunited with the King and Queen at 10am for their final outing together.
Around 60 staff and volunteers from 20 charities gathered inside the castle and readily got the guests involved in a host of activities.
One, Citizen Hub, asked both heads of state and their spouses to play a large game of snakes and ladders, rolling a foam dice and answering a question depending on which square they landed on.
The Queen, asked about when she had helped someone, said she hoped she had helped victims of domestic violence through her campaign work, adding “I hope I have” several times.
The King politely declined to answer a question about when he had faced a challenge and how he would have done it differently, pointing to members of the press listening in.
All four drew around their hands to create paper handprints, representing “lending a hand” by volunteering.
They received gifts, including copies of The Gruffalo, illustrated by German Axel Scheffler who attended last night’s banquet and they all couldn’t resist petting Jenny and Arnie, puppies who are in training to be guide dogs.
Charities chosen for this morning’s event covered sectors close to the hearts of King, Queen, President and First Lady, including food waste, the environment, young people, health, employee volunteering and heritage.
Matt Hyde, cofounder of The Big Help Out, delivered a speech about the importance of volunteering, with the King and President catching one another’s eye and smiling in agreement.
The Queen pointed out various charity stalls to Ms Büdenbender, telling her “they’re brilliant” as they made their way around a crowded room.
The King and President walked together, with their wives on the opposite side of the room. At one point, the King and Queen came face to face with one another unexpectedly, surrounded by dozens of people, and got the giggles at the indoor chaos.
The two couples were then shown a real working sleigh, designed by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria and used for their family outings.
The sleigh, which the then-Queen wrote about in her diaries in 1845, has been restored but has not been used since Victoria was alive.
It was installed in the inner hall of Windsor Castle for the State visit viewing, keeping it out of the rain.
Elke Büdenbender exclaimed “wow” when she saw it, touching the vivid red upholstery as they were told about its history and how it worked.
All four posed with the reproduced picture of Albert driving his family in the sleigh, and talked warmly, pointing out various parts of the real thing in front of them and posing for a photograph.
They then said goodbye, as the President and First Lady call an end to the royal elements of their three-day state visit.
“You were so generous, inviting us, the staying of the night,” said Mr Steinmeier. “We had a good breakfast and a wonderful banquet yesterday.” His wife added: “It was really so wonderful – unbelievable”
“We will never forget it,” said the President.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
