The BBC's William Horsley: "Reconciliation and practical partnership were the themes of this visit"

During a speech at a state banquet in honour of the German President, Roman Herzog, hosted by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle, she said the two nations had much in common.

"In public affairs, we share an instinct for the pragmatic and the down to earth, for activity, for efficiency and for progress as well as for tradition," she said.

"Increasingly, we are working together to apply these shared instincts."

She also expressed the hope that Germany would join the UK as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

"The roll call of international organisations of which both Germany and the UK are members is a long one, headed by the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

"We both realise that participation in this network of international bodies enables us to extend our reach and achieve goals which would be impossible on our own."

Windsor hosts its first state visit since the 1992 fire

The Queen told President and Mrs Herzog they were the first state visitors to Windsor Castle since the fire of 1992.

She also alluded to the German connection within the royal family itself.

"Many links with Germany are represented here, especially in the Royal Collection, where there are, for instance, 60 superb watercolours of Germany, painted for Queen Victoria on some of her many visits to your country," she said.

"Those visits began a tradition which has been enthusiastically continued. Prince Philip and I well remember the wonderful reception we received during our state visit to Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Potsdam in 1992.

"I hope that we will soon be able to revisit Berlin, your new capital: having laid the foundation stone for our new embassy there, it will be interesting to see the completed building."

Symbol of reconciliation

The Queen said the reconciliation between the UK and Germany was symbolised by the huge orb and cross given earlier in the day as a gift from the British people to Dresden.

A gift to Dresden from the British people

It was "a new symbol of the deep and ever increasing friendship between our two countries".

In the St George's Hall the dining table was set for more than 120 guests including the Queen Mother, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Prince Edward, the Princess Royal and other members of the royal family.

The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his wife Cherie, the Lord Chancellor Lord Irvine, the Archbishop of Canterbury and tennis player Boris Becker were also among the guests.

St George's Hall was seriously damaged by the 1992 fire, when the ceiling and east wall were destroyed.