German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace in London during a visit on Thursday full of ceremonial honour.
Earlier in the day, Merkel addressed the members of both Houses of Parliament and had lunch at 10 Downing Street with Prime Minister David Cameron.
The pomp stands in contrast to a recent visit by France's socialist President Francois Hollande, who was treated to a news conference in an aircraft hangar and lunch in a pub.
Cameron sees Merkel as a potent