King Charles III delivered a landmark address to the US Congress on Wednesday, earning rare praise from even staunch anti-royalists. The speech, the first by a British monarch to Congress in 35 years, was met with 12 standing ovations and lasted over half an hour, far exceeding its scheduled 20 minutes.
The King used the platform to subtly challenge President Donald Trump on key issues, including the importance of NATO, support for Ukraine, and the value of the British Navy. In a pointed remark, Charles said: 'America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more.' Despite the gentle jibes, Trump later called the speech 'great' and joked he was 'jealous' of Charles's performance.
The address won over unexpected admirers, including Alistair Campbell, a prominent republican, who praised Charles's 'clarion cry for Ukraine, for Nato, for nature and the environment, for democracy and the checks on power.' Journalist Emily Maitlis, whose Newsnight interview contributed to Prince Andrew's downfall, described the speech as 'a sort of Love Actually speech, but written by Plato.'
Historian Hugo Vickers noted that the speech may have shown anti-royalists 'the point of what a monarch can do,' highlighting the monarch's role in taking a long-term, diplomatic view of the UK-US alliance. The King's performance has been widely seen as a triumph, marking a significant moment in his reign.
