Last week, King Charles III and Queen Camilla made an historic state visit to the United States. The visit was scheduled as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding.
The trip also provided a chance for the monarch to repair the special relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, which has recently been tumultuous at best. In recent months, the historic alliance has been undermined by President Trump’s comments aimed at Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The President has been especially critical of Starmer’s refusal to draw the UK into the war with Iran. The strain caused by these remarks raised the stakes for the visit, should the King’s diplomatic efforts be unsuccessful.
The King and Queen arrived in Washington, D.C., on Monday, April 27, where they were welcomed at the White House by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
The next day, the King gave an address to a joint session of Congress, making him just the second British monarch in history to do so. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, addressed Congress in 1991.
In the speech, the King skillfully mixed praise for the U.S. and UK relationship and subtle criticism of President Trump and some of his “America First” policies. King Charles emphasized the need for international cooperation amid growing frustration from President Trump with organizations like NATO.
Invoking the historical consequence of the Magna Carta, one of the first limits on traditionally unfettered executive power, the King reminded the 119th Congress of an idea foundational to both the U.S. Constitution and the British tradition of constitutional monarchy; “the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.”
The King also prompted legislators to remember the role and influence of the United States in the world, paraphrasing words from President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, saying, “the world may little note what we say but will never forget what we do.”
In the remainder of the trip, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended a remembrance ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. Then, the pair visited Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.
Overall, the King’s visit is considered to have been a success for the monarch and the efforts of the British government to mend the damaged relationship between the U.S. and the UK. The King is being lauded by British, American and international media alike for his adept handling of an often indomitable U.S. president.
