Washington– President Donald Trump and King Charles III greeted each other warmly on Tuesday, as the king began a day of diplomacy in Washington aimed at underscoring the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States that is so strong that it can withstand the political turmoil of the moment.
Under gray, rainy skies, Trump welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House at a ceremony on the South Lawn, where the president joked it was a “lovely British day.” The king shook hands with members of Trump’s cabinet and joined the president in performing the national anthem.
King Charles III will become the first British monarch to address the US Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991.
The royal visit comes at a difficult moment for relations between the United States and the United Kingdom, but it is intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain. In his welcoming speech, Trump highlighted the shared history between the two countries and sought to draw the line between King John’s seal of the Magna Carta in 1215 and the American Revolution.
“American patriots today can sing, ‘My country, this is yours, sweet land of freedom,’ if only because our colonial ancestors first sang, ‘God Save the King,'” Trump said.
The two leaders gathered in the Oval Office for a meeting closed to the public, reducing the potential for free-wheeling and sometimes contentious meetings with foreign officials that have become routine during Trump’s second term. Afterward, Trump said it was a “really good meeting” and that Charles is a “great guy.”
Charles addresses the US Congress, only the second monarch to do so. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave a similar speech in 1991 in which she highlighted the historical ties between the two countries and the importance of their democratic values, themes that Charles is likely to reinforce on Tuesday. Such speeches are an opportunity available only to the most prominent world leaders, including Pope Francis, Vaclav Havel, and Winston Churchill.
Britain’s King Charles III is seen at a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, April 28, 2026, in Washington, as Vice President J.D. Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson applaud.
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
King’s most comprehensive public statements may come during his address to Congress
The congressional speech is likely to represent the most expensive public statements Charles will make during his four-day visit to the United States. He is expected to speak Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in a sign of solidarity and support.
He will also acknowledge the tensions that have surfaced between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, noting that the two countries have not always gotten along but have always found ways to work together.
Trump’s volatile relationship with Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past few months as the Republican president has sought to shore up international support for the war in Iran. Trump criticized Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, saying: “This is not the Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.”
Trump also imposed tariffs on the UK and warned of additional duties despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that made such unilateral moves more difficult. Last week, Trump threatened to impose a “major tariff” on the UK if it did not scrap the digital services tax imposed on US technology companies.
Trump has more broadly challenged the traditional transatlantic alliance through efforts to annex Greenland and threats to withdraw from NATO. He has repeatedly imposed tariffs on and ridiculed Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York blamed Republican policies on Monday for souring relations between the United States and the United Kingdom.
“We hope that the king’s visit will go a long way toward repairing the damage this administration has inflicted on one of our most important allies in the world,” Jeffries said.
Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while in the United States. There is no indication he will do so even with the scandal involving convicted sex offenders that has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which he denies.
Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who has been a leader in lobbying Capitol Hill for an account for Epstein, said the British ambassador to the United States told him there would be acknowledgment of survivors during the congressional address.
Charles and Camilla arrived in the nation’s capital on Monday and had tea with the president and First Lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will continue their trip to the United States later this week with stops in New York City and Virginia.
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Associated Press writers Stephen Groves in Washington and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.
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