King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House on Monday for a state visit, greeted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The royal couple exchanged pleasantries and posed for photographs before heading inside for a private tea, followed by a tour of the newly expanded White House beehive on the south lawn.
The visit takes place against a backdrop of diplomatic tension over Trump’s war in Iran and a security scare at the weekend. A gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton hotel during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, with officials believing the president and his administration were the likely targets. Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit proceeded after consultations with US authorities.
Later, the King and Queen attended a garden party at the British embassy, where they mingled with Trump administration officials including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Mehmet Oz. The guest list also featured House Speaker Mike Johnson, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and several Republican senators.
On Tuesday, Charles will address a state dinner at the White House and give a rare speech to Congress, only the second time a British monarch has done so. He is expected to acknowledge shared traditions between the UK and US, even as relations have been strained by Trump’s criticism of Britain’s stance on Iran and leaked Pentagon discussions about the Falkland Islands.
The four-day tour, marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, will also see the King visit the September 11 memorial in New York and meet conservation groups in Virginia. Trump has described Charles as “a great man” and “a friend”, separating his admiration for the monarch from his frustrations with the UK government.
