The BZ distributed flags to wave for the first Queen’s visit in 1965 Photo: private
By Oliver Ohmann
The Queen and Berlin – it was love at first sight.
The young queen came to the city for the first time 57 years ago. Four more state visits followed – in 1978, 1992, 2004 and 2015, plus two unofficial visits in 1987 and 2000.
► The first visit on May 27, 1965 only lasted about five hours, but Elizabeth took Berlin by storm. At 10.45 a.m. she landed in Gatow (then the British airfield) and drove through the streets in the open black 600 Mercedes. Her dress was yellow, as was her hat. She beamed, seemed “amused”.
In 1965, the Queen planted an oak tree in Tiergarten Photo: ullstein bild
The royal couple was received in 2000 by governor Eberhard Diepgen at the Brandenburg Gate Photo: picture alliance / AP Photo
At that time, the BZ distributed small paper flags to greet Her Majesty, as it did in 1963 with Kennedy.
The Queen also visited the Wall at the time (stopped at the Brandenburg Gate) and said in her speech in front of Schöneberg Town Hall: “Nowhere is the tragedy of a divided world clearer than in this city.”
Elizabeth II last visited in June 2015. At Pariser Platz, the 90-year-old took a dip in the crowd, wore yellow again and Berliners cheered her just like 50 years before. Goodbye, ma’am.
Visit to the Reichstag in 2000 with Bundestag President Thierse (right) and architect Norman Foster Photo: ullstein bild
In 2000, the Queen opened the British Embassy Photo: picture alliance / dpa
Elizabeth II. 2015 at the Chancellery with Angela Merkel Photo: picture alliance / empics
Boat tour on the Spree in the government district, during my last visit to Berlin in 2015 Photo: Olaf Wagner