King Charles has been urged to delay his upcoming state visit to the United States by a senior Labour MP, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs select committee, suggested the visit could be postponed for safety reasons.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Dame Emily said the trip, expected to take place in April to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, would occur “against a backdrop of a war” and that “the last thing we want is to have Their Majesties embarrassed.” She added that it would be “safer to delay” the visit.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed the state visit going ahead, arguing that the King represents “standards which both Sir Keir and Mr Trump could actually learn from.” She emphasised the significance of the anniversary and the King’s role as head of state above diplomatic rows.
Sir Peter Westmacott, former British ambassador to the US and the King’s former deputy private secretary, also expressed concerns, telling The Times’s The Royals podcast that the visit would be “problematic” while the US conducts a war that the British government initially deemed “clearly illegal.” He questioned how the visit would be perceived by the British public and whether it would imply endorsement of US actions.
