A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Isn’t it marvellous?
In just a few days Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, will be on our shores.
By “our,” I mean the German shores.
We are all.
Very.
Excited.
By excited, I mean strolling briskly, blushing and flapping slightly. No jumping around, collapsing and screaming.
We are British after all.
And we aim to keep a coolness about us on the outside while in a sense of panic and dismal anxiety on the inside!
What is it to be British?
Last year, I wrote a piece about How to Be British. And you were all extremely interested.
Most of the world seem to be fascinated by all things British and Germany is no exception. I mean, the Royal Family today stems from the Prussian Bavarian Saxony root of Queen Victoria from the House of Hannover (after whom I am named as another Young Victoria..) and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (in Bavaria, Germany) and of course, who isn’t curious and fascinated by the Brits who are here.
Of which I am one.
Need I remind you that I am The British Berliner?
Need I tell you that being British and also living in the city of Berlin makes a rather interesting combination?
And it all makes perfect sense.
Being British is the epitome of a nation of history, tradition and fairness.
Being British is to have centuries behind what makes Britain today.
Being British is to welcome and linger on what is old such as cream teas, strawberries in the summer, and cricket as well as what is new, such as an Indian curry, the Notting Hill Carnival and BritPop!
Being British is to understand the issue of what is fair, true and right and what it is to be “a true gentleman,” to keep your word and be “a real lady.”
Being British is surely not about winning the race and becoming first, but about taking part, and shaking the hand of your opponent in “good combat.”
Being British is about getting the first round in of a pint of beer, drinking champagne on a sunny day in the park and drinking Pimms on a cricket pitch during a wedding, on the Isle of Wight.
It’s about going to an Art Gallery and learning some history, dressing up for the English National Theatre even though you’re not actually at the theatre, going to the Proms, watching Shakespeare in the Park, being at an artistic play adaptation of Nick Hornby´s NippleJesus at the English Theatre in Berlin or watching Shakespeare at a beach bar auditorium whilst tango dancing by the river!
Being British is having your husband – The Music Producer– publicly say that he loves you in front of all your friends, whilst sprawling across a blanket at the Live Open Air State Opera performance in Berlin, and then going to a roof-top bar and ordering a martini, to celebrate it!
Yes, being British means being the people from England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the surrounding islands of the United Kingdom, fifteen (15) other realms from the Commonwealth which include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, fourteen (14) British Overseas Territories including Gibraltar, Bermuda and the Falkland Islands, seven (7) Australian external territories, two (2) New Zealand dependent territories, two (2) New Zealand associated states, and previously Hong Kong that was ceremoniously but reluctantly handed back to China in 1997!
Being British means being me!
As such, being British and having this blog which states quite clearly who I am, has made me everyone’s darling at the moment.
I’m pretty trendy right now!
Being British in Germany is so in!
This week, I’m going to be on German television.
And why?
Because I put myself out there, I worked really hard networking and meeting people, writing quality content, doing what I said that I would, writing about the things that I enjoy and being myself.
I didn’t do anything different.
I work as a corporate inter-cultural life coach, educational English language trainer and teacher in Berlin as well as working as an International Social Media Lifestyle, Expat & Travel Blogger!
I’m not an actor or model.
I’m not a multi-millionaire.
I didn’t win the lottery.
I didn’t quit my job.
I didn’t change my lifestyle.
I didn’t sell my stuff!
I don’t believe that you have to choose between having it all and having nothing at all. I just do exactly what it says on the tin:
The British Berliner is a lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin.
It focuses on a British girl from Manchester living in Berlin with her German husband and her half British – half German son, her promotion of British-German life, culture, history, literature, theatre, style, the English Language, travels around the world, what she does in normal every day life and where she goes.
Quite frankly, I do my very best to live a life of both style and travel!
Aside from this merry blog some of the German media gurus also found me via the British Embassy.
Thank you so much Harriet!
There’s a week of programmes about The Queen’s visit to Germany. Here’s where you can find me in the coming week.
I’m even going to get proper make up done by a professional for-TV-make-up-artist-and-everything, but I’ll be bringing my own foundation and lipstick.
Just in case LOL!
Will history repeat itself?
Only time will tell.
If you are interested, there are other programmes about British people in Berlin. It’s in German but you get the gist and will be pretty entertaining!
We’ve known for quite some time that The Queen would be visiting but if you’re in Berlin and would like the chance to see her, then here’s the programme:
The Queen enjoys seeing as many people as possible wherever she travels around the world. With that in mind, here is a guide to where members of the public can get the best view of the Queen during the State Visit.
The Queen, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh, will make a State Visit to the Federal Republic of Germany from 23rd to 26th June. Her Majesty and His Royal Highness are visiting at the invitation of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany – Herr Joachim Gauck.
What follows is the outline detail for the visit:
Tuesday 23 June
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will arrive at Berlin Tegel airport in the early evening and will be received by an honourary guard and a 21 gun salute.
Wednesday 24th June
The Queen will be at Schloss Bellevue on Wednesday June 24, at 10 to meet and greet British students from Nelson Mandela School.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will be ceremoniously welcomed with military honours at Bellevue Palace, the official residence of President Gauck.
They will then take a riverboat trip along the Spree starting around 11.15am. This will start adjacent to Bellevue Palace, and their boat will then travel east, past the Chancellery, Hauptbahnhof, and towards the Reichstag. The northern banks of the Spree will be accessible to the public on the entire stretch. The southern banks of the Spree will be accessible around the House of World Cultures cafe terrace, the upper level of Spreebogenpark (opposite Hauptbahnhof), and between the Reichstag and Marschallbrücke.
The Queen will meet Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Chancellery where The Queen will then lay a wreath at Germany’s Central Memorial for the victims of war and dictatorship.
In the afternoon, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s Lecture at Berlin’s University of Technology to be delivered by Neil MacGregor. That evening The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will return to Bellevue Palace for a State Banquet hosted by President Gauck.
It is possible to see Queen Elizabeth on the banks of the River Spree, between Bellevue and at the Reichstag.
Thursday 25th June
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel with President Gauck and Ms. Schadt to Frankfurt. The Queen and President Gauck, and the Duke of Edinburgh and Ms Schadt, will arrive outside the Paulskirche around 11.45am and listen to a short choral performance. At around 12.30pm, they will walk from the Paulskirche to the Römer, and then at around 2.30pm they will appear on the balcony of the Römer, before walking through the square. Large areas of Paulsplatz and Römerberg will be accessible to the public.
They will visit St Paul’s Church where they will meet representatives of the local community and hear about the significance of the building as the birthplace of parliamentary democracy in Germany. The Minister-President of Hesse will then host a lunch in honour of The Queen at the Römer, which has been Frankfurt’s City Hall for more than six centuries.
After leaving the Römer, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will greet members of the public in the central square. On returning to Berlin that evening, they will attend a Garden Party hosted by the British Ambassador.
It is possible to see Queen Elizabeth at Paulsplatz and Römerberg.
Friday 26th June
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will leave the Adlon at around 9.45am and have a brief walkabout in Pariser Platz. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will greet members of the public at Pariser Platz and view the Brandenburg Gate with the Mayor of Berlin. Pariser Platz will be open to the public but access will be controlled through points both at the Brandenburg Gate end and the Unter den Linden end. There is a limit on how many people can enter the square, and once it is full the police will close the entry points. So if you want to secure yourself a space, please arrive early!
They will then fly from Berlin to Celle Military Airport in Lower Saxony, and will visit the Bergen-Belsen memorial site. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will lay a wreath at the inscription wall.
They will then return to Celle Military Airport for a farewell with the local community, before departing for the UK.
It is possible to see Queen Elizabeth at Pariser Platz.
It’s going to be a long but delightful week ahead.
Let me know what you think.
I’m awfully thrilled to see where the next level will be.
The Queen will be visiting Berlin from 23.06.15 – 26.06.15 and I will be doing a documentary, a radio interview and also as an expert panel of Brits, on a Live TV show!
Berlin’s Mardi Gras (the 36th) – CSD – Christopher Street Day Gay Pride festivity, will be on 27.06.15.
Strictly Stand Up English Comedy Night will be taking place at the Quatsch Comedy Club on 01.07.15.
Berlin Fashion Week will be taking place from 06.07.15 – 10.07.15 and I have been accredited for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin (MBFWB) too! It’s going to so much fun.
I’ll be there. Will you?
As usual, you can also follow me via daily tweets and pictures on Twitter & FB!
If you’re not in Berlin, I can’t image where you would be.
June is going to be quite jolly & The Queen’s coming!
Watch this space!
Have you ever been on TV or radio? Have you ever seen or come close to any members of the Royal Family? Do you like Britain?
See you in Berlin.
If you like this post or if you have any questions send me a tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on Linkedin, make a comment below, look for me on Google+ or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com
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thebritishberliner
“but I’ll be bringing my own foundation and lipstick.Just in case LOL!”
Damn right you better. You know so many people still can’t fathom there are Black Brits. lol. I want to meet Prince Harry. Seems like a really cool cat.
Absolutely LOL! I don’t want to have a FoMO moment now that I’ve got my opportunity and quite frankly, my skin tone is pretty low on the ground so I’m going to be prepared LOL! It’ll be interesting to see how the make-up artist gets on. German professionals take things seriously so I’m betting they’ll know who’s coming and would have done the footwork but you know, as every Scout knows – Be Prepared. Plus, it’s good for business!
I think we all want to meet Prince Harry. He would be a fantastic Berliner LOL! Right now though, we’re getting something better.
The Queen herself. What an honour. 🙂
And we can all say “we knew her when..” 🙂 . Congratulations and enjoy it.
Awww. Thanks so much kemkem. You’re making me blush…thank you! 🙂
Congrats!! Inspirational stuff! Be sure to share how you got on! Most importantly, enjoy x
Thank you so much! I’ll be sure to do that. I’ll be putting the day-to-day stuff on FB and where to meet the Queen, etc but I fully intend to enjoy the moment. I think! LOL! 🙂
I’m not sure how accurate your view of English gentlemen and ladies is 😉 The last time I was there, it was more Little Britain than the Britain you describe 😉 Shame I’ll be working when Queenie’s here but oh well! She knows where to find me 😉 Good luck!
LOL! Thank you my sweet. When I used to live in London, I shared a house with two (2) Toffs. It was pretty much my lifestyle at the time as I had a very, very well paid job and spent much of the time spending money it as if it was going out of style. Also, I was the “exotic” factor so I always got invited to stuff. I was even invited to The House of Lords and everyone kept asking me where my yacht would be for the summer…. and I’ve still got the invitation card somewhere too!
Good Times!
Ha, I don’t think there’ll ever be a day when someone asks me where my yacht is 🙂
YOLO! 🙂
I just have to congratulate you again! I can’t think of a better Brit to be in the documentary! 🙂
Thank so much my sweet. I’m all over the German media in Berlin right now and I’m awfully pleased. Who would have thought. #BritainForever. 🙂
This post is so so British, girl! 🙂 Let me tell you that I am now really missing the UK. Spent there 3 years and met amazing people who introduced me to British culture. By the way, your dress is stunning (the brown-yellowish) 🙂
Thank you daaaarling! You ought to visit the UK very soon and we have to meet LOL! I really love that dress too and I bought it at Zara. Can you believe it?
They’ve got good stuff there. 🙂
Being British sounds so cool! I think I would love to see the queen someday! I remember growing up and having all these postage stamps about the house with a younger Queen Victoria. As Kenya is part of the commonwealth of nations, and a former colony of Great Britain, I’ve in a zany way always ‘felt that connection’..it’s a pity that the only times I’ve been on British soil has been on transit..hopefully I’ll remedy that soon enough.,:-)
Absolutely africanagirl! It’s never too late to have a proper British visit and maybe you’ll see the Queen then LOL!
Yes! And I’m just across, I really should! I meant a younger Queen Elizabeth (excuse the muddle up)..:-)
Ha! Ha! I totally understand LOL! 🙂
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