King Charles III received a standing ovation from US Congress on Tuesday after a speech that blended humour with subtle political messaging. The monarch, accompanied by Queen Camilla, addressed a packed House of Representatives chamber, marking the first time a British king has spoken to Congress since the American Revolution.
In a measured address, Charles quoted Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, and Abraham Lincoln, emphasising the shared history and destiny of the UK and US. He drew laughter with a Wilde quip about language differences and a Dickens-inspired reference to 'A Tale of Two Georges', reassuring lawmakers he was not part of a 'cunning rearguard action'.
The king's mention of Magna Carta as the foundation for checks on executive power was widely interpreted as a dig at President Donald Trump's authoritarian tendencies. The line drew enthusiastic applause from Democrats and Republicans alike, a rare moment of bipartisan unity in the chamber.
Charles avoided controversial topics such as Iran, Israel, immigration, and climate change, focusing instead on common bonds. The speech was seen as a successful exercise in soft power, reinforcing the 'special relationship' between the two nations amid rising populism and political tensions.
Vice-President JD Vance and cabinet members were among the attendees, while some lawmakers used the occasion to criticise Trump's foreign policy. Adam Schiff of California posted on social media that the US had 'ignored and assailed the British' to the point of isolation.
