Angela Merkel is set to make her last official visit to the UK as German chancellor today for talks with the prime minister.
Boris Johnson and Mrs Merkel, who is due to step down later this year, will discuss Covid travel restrictions, trade and post-Brexit relations.
The meeting will take place at the prime minister’s country residence of Chequers, in Buckinghamshire.
Mrs Merkel will later visit the Queen at Windsor Castle.
The chancellor, in power since 2005, is thought to want to ban all UK tourists from entering the European Union because of concerns over the Delta Covid variant.
Mr Johnson is expected to announce the latest steps towards ending lockdown in England over the next few days, with international travel high on the agenda.
In contrast to Mrs Merkel, he said on Thursday that double vaccinations could be a “liberator” as millions of people plan their summer break.