world
King Charles III Begins US State Visit
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States for their first state visit, starting in Washington, D.C., with meetings at the White House. The trip occurs against a backdrop of tensions between the UK and US over trade, defense, and foreign policy issues. The visit includes a joint address to Congress and a state dinner, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of US independence.
AB
MO
SK
+2
The IndependentAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla touched down in the United States on Monday afternoon for the start of a state visit, beginning with tea at the White House with President Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The itinerary includes a garden party, a joint address to Congress, and a state dinner.
The visit extends to New York City and Virginia. This marks the first US state visit by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's trip in 2007 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.
The visit comes at a time of heightened strains in the UK-US relationship, following disputes over trade deals, the Chagos Islands handover to Mauritius, potential tariffs on the UK, and differing positions on issues like the war with Iran, Greenland, NATO, Ukraine, and defense budgets.
The Independent reported that these tensions represent the lowest point in the special relationship since the 1956 Suez Crisis. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is accompanying the royals, highlighting the diplomatic role of the monarchy in coordination with the Foreign Office.
The visit was planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence from the UK.
“Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes. I know him well, I've known him for years. He's a brave man, and he's a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.”
Following a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday night, modest operational adjustments were made to the royals' engagements, though the overall plan remains unchanged. Buckingham Palace stated that the visit would proceed as planned after discussions with government advisors.
