Formal talks would not start until Britain invokes Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to trigger the start of Brexit.

Mrs Merkel said: “It is now up to the British Government to define how it wishes to see its future relationship with the EU and to then also pursue the following steps – particularly as regards the process leading up to invoking Article 50. Only then will the proper negotiations start.

“Today we will discuss the discussion as it presents itself now and will also discuss what is of relevance in the connection without engaging in any formal or informal talks and negotiations.

“I promise you from the German side we will certainly stand up for our interests – just as Britain does for its own citizens. But we will do this in a spirit of friendship.

“A good negotiating process and a sensible and constructive one is in all of our interests. So we will wait for the moment when the UK invokes this – and then we will put our guidelines on the table.”

Mrs Merkel also stressed the recent close links between both countries.

She said: “There has to be trust built that, in the spirit of mutual friendship, we will pursue negotiations that will pursue a certain goal.”

Speaking alongside Mrs Merkel, Mrs May – who initially spoke in German - said: “We will be taking some time before we trigger that renegotiation".

“We have two women who have got on and ... two women who get on with the job and want to deliver the best results for the people of the UK and the people of Germany.”

Mrs May batted back criticism of Boris Johnson, the new foreign secretary who had made outspoken remarks about the EU during the referendum campaign, saying: “I have appointed a team of ministers who will take forward the position of the British government.

“I am very clear that as a British Government and as a Prime Minister we will be looking to build good relations with all of the EU member states.”

Mrs Merkel also had a good word for Mr Johnson, saying that she was confident “the British foreign secretary in good cooperation with all of the other 27 foreign ministers” will work together.