Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla touched down in the United States on Monday for a four-day visit, warmly received by self-professed royal enthusiast U.S. President Donald Trump despite his differing views with the British government on the Iran conflict.
This state visit, marking a significant milestone in Charles’ reign, coincides with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaring independence from British rule and represents the first trip to the country by a British monarch in twenty years.
Following their arrival at Joint Base Andrews and a brief welcome ceremony, Charles and Camilla headed to the White House, where they were met by Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The two couples exchanged greetings, with the Trumps extending kisses on the cheek to the King and Queen before having a private tea session.
Later, the royal pair attended a garden soiree at the British ambassador’s newly refurbished residence, featuring performances of both the British and American national anthems by a choir. Amidst the gathering were prominent figures from the media, Washington social circles, and officials like U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with various foreign ambassadors.
The itinerary for the week includes a speech to Congress, an extravagant state banquet at the White House, and a visit to New York City. These events unfold against a backdrop of tension in Washington following a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner over the weekend.
During his address to Congress, expected to last around 20 minutes, Charles will emphasize the historical ties between the UK and the U.S., highlighting the resilience of their alliance despite differences. He will stress the importance of defending shared democratic values to enhance global security and prosperity, characterizing their partnership as one of the most significant in human history.
While Trump admires the British royal family and praises Charles, he has clashed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government on certain issues. Starmer hopes the royal visit will strengthen the “special relationship” between the two countries, currently strained to levels not seen since the Suez Crisis in 1956.
The long-anticipated visit has been overshadowed by political disagreements between the U.S. and the UK regarding the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran, leading to Trump’s public discontent with the British government’s stance.
After their time in Washington, the royal couple will pay respects in New York City to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary. The trip will conclude in Virginia, where Charles will engage with conservationists, reflecting his five-decade commitment to environmental advocacy.
British Ambassador Christian Turner emphasized the shared heritage and values between the two nations during the visit, adopting a typically British mantra of “Keep calm, carry on.” While Trump has softened his critique of the UK recently, internal Pentagon communication indicates a potential reassessment of the U.S. stance on the Falkland Islands issue in response to Britain’s perceived lack of support, further straining relations.
Charles aims to sidestep discussions on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal during the visit, as his brother Prince Andrew faces scrutiny over his connections to the disgraced U.S. financier. Prince Andrew has vehemently denied any wrongdoing in relation to the Epstein affair.