King Charles III will proceed with a state visit to the United States in late April, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, despite calls from MPs to delay the trip due to the ongoing US-led war with Iran. The visit, which includes Queen Camilla, is scheduled from 27 to 30 April and will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Critics, including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, have described the visit as a 'humiliation' given recent verbal attacks by US President Donald Trump on the UK's armed forces. Trump last week dismissed the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers as 'toys' and suggested the UK should 'fight for yourselves' to secure jet fuel from the Middle East. Davey said the prime minister was showing a 'staggering lack of backbone' by allowing the visit to go ahead.
Emily Thornberry, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, previously suggested it would be 'safer to delay' the visit to avoid embarrassing the king. Green party leader Zack Polanski urged the prime minister to 'stop the king's visit to the USA' and end UK involvement in the conflict. Labour MPs John McDonnell and Clive Lewis also criticised the decision, with McDonnell warning that Trump would use the visit for personal publicity.
Buckingham Palace stated that the visit was undertaken 'on advice of his majesty’s government, and at the invitation of the president of the United States'. The king is expected to address Congress and attend events for the 250th anniversary. Trump announced the visit on his Truth Social platform, calling it 'TERRIFIC' and expressing respect for the king.
The announcement came shortly after Trump again criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not backing US-Israel strikes on Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also pressured the UK to 'step up' to defend the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Office defended the visit as a celebration of US independence, despite ongoing tensions.
