The White House state dinner for King Charles and Queen Camilla featured a dessert made with honey from Melania Trump's personal beehive, highlighting the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The first lady meticulously planned the Tuesday night event, which also marked America's 250th anniversary of independence.
Three-Course Meal with a Sweet Finale
Guests were treated to a three-course meal beginning with a hearts of palm salad accompanied by garden herb velouté sauce. The second course consisted of handcrafted spring herb ravioli, followed by a third course of Dover sole meunière, a classic French fish dish served with sweet snow peas and layered potatoes pavé.
The highlight of the evening was the dessert: a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau, a flourless French cake filled with vanilla bean crémeux custard. The dessert also featured almond joconde, a French sponge cake, and was served with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey.
The First Lady's Beehive
Upon their arrival in the U.S. on Monday, King Charles and Queen Camilla, both known beekeeping enthusiasts, were escorted by President Donald Trump and Melania to view the first lady's new beehive on the South Lawn. The hive is designed as a miniature replica of the White House.
The White House beekeeping program, initiated in 2009 under the Obama administration, now includes two new bee colonies from Melania's hive, adding to the two existing colonies. The new hive is expected to boost annual honey production by approximately 30 pounds, according to the White House. The honey will be used in White House culinary creations, presented as official gifts from the Trumps, and donated to local food kitchens.
Dinner Service and Wine Pairings
The state dinner courses were served on both the Clinton and Bush china services and paired with three wines: Hopkins Riesling "Heritage" 2024, Penner-Ash Pinot Noir "Willamette Valley" 2022, and Newton Chardonnay "Unfiltered" 2022.
Star-Studded Guest List
The guest list included prominent figures from business, judiciary, and media. Among the attendees were Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Paramount chief David Ellison. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sam Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Clarence Thomas were also present. Fox News hosts Bret Baier, Maria Bartiromo, Laura Ingraham, and Jesse Watters were invited, along with members of Trump's Cabinet, Congress, and family. On the British side, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and British Ambassador to the U.S. Christian Turner attended.
Musical Performances and Upcoming Itinerary
Entertainment was provided by musicians from the Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force. Following their two-day stay in Washington, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to New York on Wednesday to meet with first responders and families affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They will conclude their visit on Thursday in Virginia, participating in community events.
