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| Queen and Prince Philip begin state visit to Germany | Queen and Prince Philip begin state visit to Germany |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Queen has been welcomed to Germany with a 21-gun salute and the roar of Luftwaffe fighter jets overhead. | The Queen has been welcomed to Germany with a 21-gun salute and the roar of Luftwaffe fighter jets overhead. |
| Two Eurofighter Typhoon jets had escorted the royal couple's chartered plane to Berlin Tegel airport, as is customary for visiting dignitaries. | Two Eurofighter Typhoon jets had escorted the royal couple's chartered plane to Berlin Tegel airport, as is customary for visiting dignitaries. |
| On landing, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by Britain's ambassador to Germany, Sir Simon McDonald, | On landing, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were greeted by Britain's ambassador to Germany, Sir Simon McDonald, |
| The royals are in the country for a four-day state visit. | The royals are in the country for a four-day state visit. |
| The skies brightened briefly just before the Queen's plane touched down and taxied to a strip of red carpet and a waiting guard of honour. | The skies brightened briefly just before the Queen's plane touched down and taxied to a strip of red carpet and a waiting guard of honour. |
| As the Queen left the airport, 15 motorcycle outriders led the way, forming an arrowhead, followed by a British state limousine carrying the royal couple. | As the Queen left the airport, 15 motorcycle outriders led the way, forming an arrowhead, followed by a British state limousine carrying the royal couple. |
| During their time in Germany, they will attend a state banquet, travel to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and hold a private meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. | During their time in Germany, they will attend a state banquet, travel to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and hold a private meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| The Queen and Prince Philip are responding to an invitation from German President Joachim Gauck. | The Queen and Prince Philip are responding to an invitation from German President Joachim Gauck. |
| They will be received by President Gauck at his official residence, Bellevue Palace, on Wednesday. | They will be received by President Gauck at his official residence, Bellevue Palace, on Wednesday. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron will join them at a state banquet on Wednesday held in their honour. | Prime Minister David Cameron will join them at a state banquet on Wednesday held in their honour. |
| The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will spend time in Berlin and Frankfurt before travelling to the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, which was liberated by the British 70 years ago. | The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will spend time in Berlin and Frankfurt before travelling to the site of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, which was liberated by the British 70 years ago. |
| There they will meet groups of survivors and liberators, and representatives of Jewish and Christian communities. | There they will meet groups of survivors and liberators, and representatives of Jewish and Christian communities. |
| This is the Queen's seventh time in Germany. | This is the Queen's seventh time in Germany. |
| The Queen's first visit was in 1965 and the last in 2004. In 2000 she opened the new British embassy in Berlin. | The Queen's first visit was in 1965 and the last in 2004. In 2000 she opened the new British embassy in Berlin. |
| She has been on four previous state visits and two official visits. | She has been on four previous state visits and two official visits. |
| Mr Gauck, a human-rights campaigner and former East German dissident, became president in March 2012. | Mr Gauck, a human-rights campaigner and former East German dissident, became president in March 2012. |
| Analysis | |
| By Peter Hunt, BBC royal correspondent | |
| Inside a private chartered plane - escorted by two fighter jets from the Luftwaffe - the Queen touched down in Germany for the seventh time in her reign. | Inside a private chartered plane - escorted by two fighter jets from the Luftwaffe - the Queen touched down in Germany for the seventh time in her reign. |
| According to Sir Simon McDonald, Britain's ambassador here, the monarch stands for something Germans appreciate - continuity, stability and a sense of duty. | According to Sir Simon McDonald, Britain's ambassador here, the monarch stands for something Germans appreciate - continuity, stability and a sense of duty. |
| Newspapers in Berlin have advised their readers to not take selfies; to refer to her as Your Majesty; and to consider lilac as a safe colour to wear. | Newspapers in Berlin have advised their readers to not take selfies; to refer to her as Your Majesty; and to consider lilac as a safe colour to wear. |
| On the tarmac there was a 21-gun salute - the formal ceremonial welcome will be on Wednesday at the German President's palace. | On the tarmac there was a 21-gun salute - the formal ceremonial welcome will be on Wednesday at the German President's palace. |
| Read more from Peter Hunt | Read more from Peter Hunt |