Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will undertake a state visit to the United States in late April, as planned. The visit had faced calls for postponement due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but the Palace announced it would go ahead on the advice of His Majesty's government and at the invitation of President Donald Trump.
This will be the King’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit by a British sovereign to America in nearly 20 years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s tour in 2007. The programme will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence and include a state dinner at the White House, while the King will address Congress.
Some politicians had argued that the trip would be a “humiliation” while the US is engaged in conflict with Iran. The UK has meanwhile sent additional military support to the Gulf, bringing the total deployment to 1,000 troops, amid further jibes from Donald Trump about Britain’s refusal to take part in offensive operations against Iran.
After the US visit, the King will continue to Bermuda for his first Royal Visit as monarch to a British Overseas Territory.
