State Visit of the German President

[BREMENMURRAY]

Much is being made of the fact that this is the first State Visit of a German President since 1998.This is very recent compared with Belgium.The last Belgian State Visit was in 1963.Most of the nearby countries have had several since then.

If the practice of only giving the Garter to foreign monarchs during state visits continues King Philippe may never get it 

[malcolm davies]

Yes Bremen-King Albert of Belgium was never honoured with a state visit-even though he reigned for 20 years.Likewise Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg who reigned for 25 years.

[992234177]

There have been poor relations with the Saxe Coburg Gothas since WWII, maybe it’s still a thing with the younger generations.

[BREMENMURRAY]

What if any influence does the King have over who gets a state visit?If it is entirely a government decision then perhaps the practice of only awarding the Garter at state visits should end.In 1935 the grandfather of King Philippe and Grand Duke Henri King Leopold III got the Garter without a state visit