The Federal Government and the Federal President went far beyond the usual level of condolence in their expressions of grief after the death of British Queen Elizabeth II.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who initially made a written statement and emphasized the Queen's role in post-war reconciliation between Great Britain and Germany, appeared again on Friday in front of the cameras in the Federal Chancellery to make a personal statement.

Johannes Leithauser

Political correspondent in Berlin.

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Not only in Great Britain, but also in Germany, people were moved and touched by the death of the monarch, said Scholz.

This is evidenced by the bouquets of flowers and cards that many people in Berlin put down in front of the British Embassy.

Great Britain has lost a queen, but the world has lost a figure of the century.

"With special presence and affection"

The Queen "embodies the best of our common European heritage," said Scholz: "Democracy and the rule of law."

Germany is "full of gratitude" for the numerous visits that the Queen has made and "with a special presence and devotion" to this country.

Like Scholz, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also paid tribute to the Queen's achievements in a personal appearance.

He also recalled their part in establishing good relations between the two countries after the Second World War.

She had "helped to heal the wounds of war herself".

At that time, Great Britain extended its hand to Germany for reconciliation - "and the hand of reconciliation was also the hand of the Queen".

Steinmeier said Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's state visit in 1965 was "one of the most important and powerful symbols of the post-war British-German friendship".

For the young Federal Republic of Germany, this trip was an inestimably important signal of reconciliation after two devastating world wars, "after the guilt that my country had shouldered".

Both the Federal Chancellor and the Federal President ended their mourning addresses with good wishes to Elisabeth's son and successor.

Both wished King Charles III.

strength and happiness in his office for the great task that he now has to take on.

In the morning, the Bundestag commemorated the late Queen with a minute's silence.

"Germany owes a lot to Queen Elizabeth II," said Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) at the beginning of the session.

"We mourn the loss of a great stateswoman." She also referred to Elisabeth's commitment to a "complete reconciliation" between Germany and Great Britain after the war.

"She was an exceptional figure and a role model - well beyond the borders of the UK." Most people could not imagine a world without Queen Elizabeth II, said Bas.

"She was the monarch of the century."