Britain's King Charles III treated German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to a sumptuous banquet Wednesday, as the pair hailed the countries' deep ties during the first UK state visit by a German head of state in decades.

Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender were guests of honour at the lavish dinner hosted by Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, west of London, capping the first day of the three-day visit.

In a heartfelt banquet speech reflecting on centuries of shared history -- from the two world wars to a love of beer and football -- Steinmeier said Britons and Germans "share an affinity with one another".

Noting the British influence on his own post-WWII childhood, due to the presence of UK soldiers in his home region and listening to their armed forces' radio, he add

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