Berlin - Britain's Prince Charles visited Berlin's newly renovated New Museum on Thursday, during a two-day visit to Germany accompanied by his wife Camilla. The prince was shown around by British architect David Chipperfield, who has just finished renovating the future home of Egyptian pharaonic queen Nefertiti.
The refurbished building on Berlin's Museum Island is due to house the state's Egyptian collection including the famous bust when it reopens in October, for the first time in 70 years.
"He seemed impressed by the project as a whole," Chipperfield said afterwards. Charles, who has a keen interest in architecture, took the time to hear how modern elements were incorporated into the building, badly damaged during World War II.
"He was particularly impressed by the craftsmanship," the architect added.
At a gala dinner Wednesday evening, the prince was awarded the German sustainability prize for years of work on environmental issues.
"Climate change is undoubtedly the greatest challenge of our age," Prince Charles told the dinner guests at the German Historic Museum. These included German Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit as well German actress Iris Berben and other entertainers.
December's upcoming Copenhagen summit was crucial, the prince said, as there was not a moment to lose if we wanted to bequeath our children and grandchildren a world fit to live in.
The two-day visit is due to conclude Thursday with a trip to the town of Potsdam on the outskirts of Berlin. Here, the Prince of Wales planned to visit the Institute of Climate Research, as well as the Einstein tower, a sun observatory from the 1920s.
Meanwhile the Duchess of Cornwall was expected to tour Sanssouci Palace, where Prussian King Frederick the Great is buried.
