Queen Elizabeth II was the guest at a state banquet at the official residence of Germany’s President Joachim Gauck as part of a four day visit In
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Queen Elizabeth II was the guest at a state banquet at the official residence of Germany’s President Joachim Gauck as part of a four day visit
In his speech the president said a constructive dialogue about the reforms which some UK politicians are aiming for is essential and added Germany will support the dialogue.
It was made in the presence of Prime Minister David Cameron who is leading the campaign for European Union reform and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The Queen who as UK head of state stays politically neutral stressed the need for unity.
“In our lives Mr President, we have seen the worst but also the best of our continent. We have witnessed how quickly things can change for the better but we know that we must guard against it in the west as well as in the east of our continent,” the monarch told guests.
After the speech Buckingham Palace stressed the Queen’s comments were not about Mr Cameron’s European Union aims. “This is not about the EU. The Queen is apolitical. She would never make a political point,” said an aide.