Prince Charles will ask politicians to protect Britain's historic bond with Germany in a speech
Prince Charles will tonight ask politicians to protect Britain's historic bond with Germany.
In what may be seen as a push for a softer Brexit, the heir to the throne will point out that the two nations have transcended years of conflict to become friends and partners.
And he will say he hopes any future relationship stays strong for the sake of young people today and generations to come.
The prince is to speak in Berlin at an event to celebrate the Queen's birthday following a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
He will acknowledge the Brexit crisis, saying of Anglo-German ties: 'It is a relationship in transition.
'But whatever the shape of our future relationship, and whatever is negotiated and agreed between governments and institutions, it is more clear to me than it has ever been, that the bonds between us will, and must, endure – and that our young people, and future generations, will have as much cause to cherish those bonds as our generation has had.
'Our countries and our people have been through so much together. As we look towards the future, I can only hope that we can also pledge to redouble our commitment to each other and to the ties between us.
'In so doing, we can ensure that our continent will never again see the division and conflict of the past; that together, we will continue to be an indispensable force for good in our world; and that the friendships and partnerships that bind us together will continue to create opportunity for us all.'
The Prince of Wales will acknowledge the Brexit crisis in his speech and say it is a 'relationship in transition'. He is pictured with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Theresa May at St James's Palace in London on July 10 last year
Prince Charles's trip begins in Berlin today as the royal couple meet Mrs Merkel and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Charles and Mrs Merkel are pictured in Paris in 2015
Charles's speech will come at the start of a four-day trip to Germany with his wife, Camilla.
Undertaken at the request of the British Government, the visit will highlight the depth of the bilateral relationship and its 'enduring importance to both countries'.
Charles and Camilla's trip was supposed to come in the wake of Britain's departure from the EU on March 29. It was decided the visit should go ahead despite Brexit being delayed.
Since the Queen no longer travels abroad, any visit by Charles is akin to a state visit and viewed by the Government as a weapon in its diplomatic armoury. Senior royals are seen to have the ability to open doors that politicians cannot.
The trip begins in Berlin today as the royal couple meet Mrs Merkel and German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
They will lay a wreath to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Berlin airlift, in which Britain played a significant part, as well as attend a dinner hosted by the British ambassador at which Charles will deliver his speech.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (pictured on April 10) will meet the royal couple as part of the trip which was scheduled to take place after the March 29 Brexit
Tomorrow they will travel to Leipzig and then to Munich, where Camilla will highlight projects working with victims of domestic violence. It is the prince's speech, however, that is expected to capture the headlines.
One aide said Charles, who has spent weeks crafting his words in Highgrove and Birkhall, his English and Scottish country retreats, feels passionately that 'despite whatever may happen in the political process we cannot lose the cultural ties that bind us'.
'It was written from a deeply personal perspective given his family connections,' the source added.
He will highlight his
