King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House on Monday for a state visit, greeted by Donald and Melania Trump. The four posed for photographs and exchanged pleasantries before a private tea, followed by a tour of the newly expanded White House beehive on the south lawn.
The royals later attended a garden party at the British embassy in Washington, where guests included Trump administration officials, House Speaker Mike Johnson, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and other political figures. Waiters served Scottish smoked salmon and roasted British beef with horseradish, as the king moved through the crowd in warm sunshine.
The visit, marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, takes place amid a diplomatic rift over Trump's war in Iran and a security scare at last Saturday's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, where a gunman opened fire at the Washington Hilton. Officials believe the president and his administration were likely targets, prompting an urgent security review before the king's arrival.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit would proceed after consultations with US authorities. A spokesperson said: 'The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case.' On Tuesday, Charles will address a state dinner and give a rare speech to Congress, expected to acknowledge transatlantic strains and reference the weekend shooting.
The king will tell Congress that while the UK and US have not always agreed, their shared traditions mean 'time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together.' He will then travel to New York to visit the September 11 memorial and conclude in Virginia to meet conservation groups.
Some British politicians worry about potential embarrassment given Trump's recent attacks on Pope Leo XIV and his criticism of Britain's refusal to back military action against Iran. However, Trump has described Charles as 'a great man' and 'a friend,' separating his admiration for the king from frustrations with the UK government.
