King Charles III is set to tell the US Congress that "time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together," in a speech emphasizing reconciliation and renewal between the United Kingdom and the United States. The address, scheduled for Tuesday, comes at a delicate moment in transatlantic relations, with President Donald Trump publicly criticizing UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the Iran conflict.
The King's state visit, the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, also follows a security scare in Washington DC just two days prior, when a gunman stormed an event attended by the president. The King is expected to express sympathy for the attack.
According to royal sources, the King will stress the importance of standing together to defend democratic values amid global challenges. He will urge support for NATO and Ukraine, and call for upholding tolerance, liberty, and equality. "The transatlantic alliance is built on a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value people of all faiths and none," the King will tell lawmakers.
The speech, drafted on government advice and expected to last 20 minutes, is the centerpiece of a packed itinerary that began Monday with the royal couple's arrival at Andrews Airbase. They were greeted by US and British officials, and later attended a White House tea with the Trumps, including a visit to a newly expanded beehive shaped like the White House.
On Monday evening, the King and Queen attended a garden party at the British Embassy, where 600 guests mingled. Queen Camilla, wearing a brooch symbolizing the US-UK alliance, spoke with activists against domestic abuse. Some Epstein survivors had called for a meeting, but the King's team declined due to legal concerns.
Tuesday's schedule includes a White House ceremonial welcome and a state dinner hosted by President Trump. The King's visit is seen as a soft-power effort to reinforce ties ahead of America's 250th anniversary of independence.