Melania Trump was seen laughing and joking with King Charles III during the monarch's visit to the White House on Monday, as the two discussed the royal couple's love of honey.
The King, who is on a state visit to the United States, joined President Donald Trump and the first lady on the South Lawn to inspect the White House beehive. Carlo Figarella, the White House assistant pastry chef, told the royals that guests would be given jars of honey to take home in their honour. Melania then chimed in: “We’ll put in extra for Their Majesties, yes? Because they are lovers of honey.”
The exchange prompted Melania to giggle and place her hand gently on the King’s arm, while Queen Camilla and President Trump listened intently. The first lady wore a buttercream yellow skirt suit by Adam Lippes, who also designed her navy coat for President Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
In her 2024 memoir, Melania revealed that she became pen pals with King Charles after being seated next to him at a state banquet in the UK in 2019. She described him as having a “deep-rooted commitment to environmental conservation.”
The lighthearted moment came on the same day Melania criticised comedian Jimmy Kimmel on X, calling him “hateful and violent” after he joked that she was an “expectant widow.” The King also encountered a comedian during his visit, as Matt Friend from CNN’s America Laughs mimicked his voice at a garden party. The King laughed and replied, “Keep trying.”
The King is due to address Congress on Tuesday, where he is expected to discuss the UK-US relationship amid tensions between President Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the war with Iran. The visit officially marks the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain.
