WASHINGTON – Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the United States later on Monday for a four-day trip, a tour which has taken on even greater prominence after the White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting and amid acrimony between the close allies.
The state visit, by far the most high-profile and consequential of Charles’s reign, marks the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence from British rule, and is the first visit to the country by a British monarch for two decades. It begins with a private meeting with self-proclaimed royal fan US President Donald Trump, and includes an address to Congress and a lavish dinner at the White House.
Press Dinner Shooting Casts Pall
But the long-planned trip has become enmeshed in the political spat between the two countries over the US-Israeli war on Iran, which led Trump to voice deep displeasure with the British government for failing to support the offensive. The shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, with the president and officials in his administration the likely targets according to the US acting attorney general, has cast a further pall over the visit.
Buckingham Palace said the trip would still go ahead as planned following discussions between British and US authorities to determine if the incident would impact the royals’ plans. “The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow,” a palace spokesperson said on Sunday.
Trump’s Criticism of UK Over Iran Stance
On arriving in Washington, the king and queen have a private tea with the president, an unabashed lover of the British royal family who regularly describes Charles as a “great man”, and his wife, first lady Melania Trump. The 77-year-old king, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, will address Congress the next day — just the second time a British monarch has done so.
The royals will then head on to New York where they will commemorate those killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary, while the queen will also mark the centenary of children’s stories featuring Winnie the Pooh. The US trip concludes in Virginia with the king meeting those involved in conservation work, a nod to his half-century of environmental campaigning.
‘Special Relationship’ at Low Point
The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping the visit will shore up the future of the two allies’ “special relationship” which is at its lowest point since the Suez Crisis in 1956. Britain’s ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, said the visit would underscore the shared history, sacrifice and common values between the two countries, adding that the approach would be a very British one of: “Keep calm, carry on.”
Falklands Tensions
While Trump has eased his criticism of Britain in recent days over its response to the Iran war, an internal Pentagon email has set out how the US could review its position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for its lack of support, once again straining ties.
Epstein Scandal Off the Table
One issue off the table during the visit is the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Royal sources have said it was not possible for the royal couple to meet any victims of Epstein during the tour, as some have requested, to avoid impacting any potential criminal cases. Charles’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose reputation and royal standing has been destroyed over his links to the late US sex offender, is currently facing police inquiries over his connections. The former Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
Analysis: A Diplomatic Minefield
King Charles’s first state visit to the United States is navigating a diplomatic minefield. The shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner — a possible assassination attempt on President Trump — has cast a security pall over the visit. The acrimony between the US and UK over the Iran war, with Trump criticising Britain for not supporting the offensive, has strained the “special relationship.”
The king’s address to Congress — only the second by a British monarch — will be a historic moment. But what should have been a celebration of the 250th anniversary of American independence is instead overshadowed by political tensions and security concerns.
The Falklands issue — a potential US review of Britain’s claim to the islands — is a reminder that even the closest allies can have sharp disagreements.
The palace’s statement — “grateful to all those who have worked at pace” — suggests that the decision to proceed was not taken lightly. But the show must go on.
As the king and queen land in Washington, the hope is that the visit will strengthen the alliance, not further strain it. But in a “crazy world” — as Trump described it — nothing is certain.
