King Charles III will embrace some of Washington’s most formal ceremonial trappings as he tries to emphasise a bond between the United Kingdom and the United States that is so strong it can withstand the political turmoil of the moment.
The visit comes at a challenging moment for US-UK relations.
US President Donald Trump’s up-and-down relationship with Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the president has sought to rally international support for the US-Israeli war in Iran.
The king, accompanied by Queen Camilla, is begining his day with a meeting at the White House with President Trump around 10:35 am ET.
The king is then scheduled to address the US Congress at 3 pm ET, the body’s first address from a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1991. The day will end with an expectedly buzzy dinner at the White House.
Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the US.
There is no indication that he will do so, even as the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, the former Prince Andrew, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which the latter has denied.
US Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif., urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.
Trump has maintained warm relations with the king. He has spoken in glowing terms about Charles, repeatedly referring to the monarch as his “friend” and a “great guy.”
“President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship was further strengthened by the president’s historic visit to the United Kingdom last year,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Associated Press.
Related
