King Charles's four-day state visit to the United States has been described by experts as the toughest test of US-British diplomacy since George VI met Franklin D Roosevelt on the eve of the Second World War. The visit took place against a backdrop of political tensions, including growing political violence in the US and disputes over the Iranian conflict.
The Oval Office meeting on Tuesday was held in private, after British officials sought to avoid a repeat of the public confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The King arrived in the US shortly after a shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, setting a sombre tone for the trip.
During his address to Congress, the King spoke of historical bonds between the two nations, but critics noted he did not explicitly mention victims of Jeffrey Epstein, despite hopes he would do so. The official White House social media accounts posted an image of President Trump and the King with the caption 'TWO KINGS'.
New British Ambassador to the US Christian Turner remarked that it was 'extraordinary' that the Epstein scandal had brought down a member of the royal family and senior officials in Britain, but 'yet here in the US, it really hasn’t touched anybody'. Turner took up his post in February, replacing Sir Kim Darroch, who resigned after diplomatic cables were leaked.
The visit included ceremonial events and a private dinner at the British Embassy, with attendees including Olympic diver Tom Daley. The King's itinerary also featured a wreath-laying ceremony and meetings with business leaders. However, the trip has been criticised for appearing to legitimise President Trump's actions, particularly regarding US foreign policy and human rights concerns.
