Visit of King Charles III of the United Kingdom to the United States (April 2026)

The state visit of King Charles III of the United Kingdom to the United States is a diplomatic program taking place between 27 and 30 April 2026 encompassing Washington DC New York and Virginia within the framework of relations between the two countries.

The visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States is the first state visit to the U.S. since Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 2007. It has been noted that the visit occurs shortly before the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence from Britain.

The Buckingham Palace statement indicated that the visit aims to underscore the strong relationship between the two nations.

Despite an armed attack attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington prior to the visit it was announced that the program would proceed as planned.

Deputy U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that necessary security measures had been taken and that the security system was functioning. It was indicated that existing security precautions had been enhanced and higher-level measures would be implemented during the visit.

During the visit King Charles III and Queen Camilla are scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The first meeting is set to take place in Washington in the afternoon tea.

On Tuesday a formal welcome ceremony including a military parade will be held at the White House. It was stated that members of the U.S. Congress will also attend this ceremony. Later that evening a state dinner in honor of the royal couple will be held in the East Room of the White House.

As part of the visit King Charles III is scheduled to address both chambers of the U.S. Congress. This address is noted as the first such speech by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II’s address in 1991.

It has been reported that after the Washington program the royal couple will travel to New York and Virginia. These visits are said to include diplomatic engagements and official events.

It has been stated that King Charles III will not meet his son Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle during the visit. The couple residing in California are noted as no longer undertaking active royal duties.

It was also reported that while there were calls for the royal couple to meet with victims and their families connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case no such meeting is planned. This decision was said to be due to ongoing legal proceedings and investigations.

It has been noted that U.S. President Donald Trump previously visited the United Kingdom and that most of the events during that visit were held at Windsor Castle. It was also noted that despite political disagreements between the U.S. and the UK Trump has made positive remarks about the monarchy and King Charles III and that this visit holds significance for bilateral relations.

King Charles III of the United Kingdom addressed a joint session of the United States Congress during his visit. This speech holds historical significance as it is the second time a British monarch has spoken before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II’s address in 1991 approximately 35 years ago.

In his speech King Charles III highlighted the enduring nature of the historical alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom and emphasized its importance amid growing uncertainties in the international system. The King received prolonged standing ovations before his address and stressed that the relationship between the two countries plays a decisive role not only historically but also in addressing current global challenges.

In assessing the current state of the international system King Charles III stated:

“We are in the midst of a great period of uncertainty; amid conflicts stretching from Europe to the Middle East immense challenges confront the international community and the impact of these conflicts is felt across our nations.”

Referring to the historical roots of the U.S.-UK alliance King Charles noted that relations between the two countries have been built on strong cooperation despite occasional disagreements. In this context he addressed the American people with the following words:

“We are truly grateful to the American people for the alliance our two nations have built over centuries.”

King Charles III also referenced Queen Elizabeth II’s 1991 address to Congress and pointed out that today’s conditions are more complex and risky. In this regard he observed:

“Today we live in a new age yet our shared values remain as relevant as ever. This era is a more unstable and more dangerous time than the world my late mother described in this chamber in 1991. The challenges we face are too great for any single nation to overcome alone.”

The King also referred to cooperation within the NATO framework noting that the United Kingdom has increased its defense budget and continues to contribute to the Western alliance. He highlighted the first-ever invocation of NATO’s Article 5 following the 11 September 2001 attacks emphasizing the historical continuity of allied solidarity.

The speech also addressed developments in Ukraine and drew attention to the responsibility of the international community. King Charles III stated:

“Today we indeed need the same unwavering resolve to protect Ukraine and its bravest people in order to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

Later in his speech emphasizing peace and international cooperation the King said:

“It is for this reason that in these turbulent times I hope and pray that together with our international partners we can prevent the transformation of ploughshares into swords.”

King Charles III described the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom as one of “reconciliation renewal and extraordinary partnership” and congratulated the United States on its 250th anniversary. He concluded his speech with these words:
“On your 250th anniversary let us reaffirm our commitment to each other in service to our peoples and to all peoples of the world.”

Following the speech King Charles III left the chamber shaking hands with members of Congress alongside his wife Queen Camilla.

The four-day state visit of King Charles III to the United States was planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence.

King Charles employed historical references and humorous expressions both in his address to the U.S. Congress and during the dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. He made allusions to events such as the Seven Years’ War the War of 1812 the Boston Tea Party and the Suez Crisis.

At the beginning of his speech King Charles made a humorous allusion to a parliamentary tradition in the United Kingdom:

“Now as you may know when I addressed my own parliament at Westminster we still follow an age-old tradition and take a member of Parliament hostage holding him or her at Buckingham Palace until I am safely returned. These days we look after our guest rather well to the point that they often do not want to leave. I don’t know Mr Speaker if there are any volunteers for that role here today.”

“As you may know when I addressed my own parliament at Westminster we still follow an age-old tradition and take a member of Parliament hostage holding him or her at Buckingham Palace until I am safely returned. These days we look after our guest rather well to the point that they often do not want to leave. I don’t know Mr Speaker if there are any volunteers for that role here today.”

This remark is rooted in a nearly 400-year-old tradition in the United Kingdom. During the opening of Parliament a member of Parliament is symbolically held hostage at Buckingham Palace. This practice originated to guarantee the monarch’s safe departure from Parliament and dates back to the reign of Charles I.

King Charles referred to the number of his visits to the U.S. capital Washington and employed a literary analogy:

“Mr Speaker this is by no means my first visit to Washington DC the capital of this great republic. It is in fact my 20th visit to the United States and my first as King and head of the Commonwealth.”

“Mr Speaker this is by no means my first visit to Washington DC the capital of this great republic. It is in fact my 20th visit to the United States and my first as King and head of the Commonwealth.”

He then made a reference to the work of Charles Dickens:

“This is a city which symbolises a period in our shared history or what Charles Dickens might have called A Tale of Two Georges: the first president George Washington and my five times great-grandfather King George III. King George as you know never set foot in America. And please rest assured ladies and gentlemen I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action.”

“This is a city which symbolises a period in our shared history or what Charles Dickens might have called A Tale of Two Georges: the first president George Washington and my five times great-grandfather King George III. King George as you know never set foot in America. And please rest assured ladies and gentlemen I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action.”

To highlight the historical age difference between the two nations King Charles used the following phrase:

“The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. Two-hundred-and-fifty years ago or as we say in the United Kingdom just the other day they declared independence by balancing contending forces and drawing strength into diversity.”

“The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. Two-hundred-and-fifty years ago or as we say in the United Kingdom just the other day they declared independence by balancing contending forces and drawing strength into diversity.”

British media have interpreted these remarks as Charles humorously suggesting that for a deeply rooted nation like Great Britain American independence feels like “just the other day” and that his visit is not a “cunning rearguard action” to reestablish British rule.

At the official dinner at the White House King Charles used more direct humor:

“You recently commented Mr President that if it were not for the United States European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us you’d be speaking French.”

“You recently commented Mr President that if it were not for the United States European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us you’d be speaking French.”

King Charles also referred to renovation efforts at the White House saying:

“I am sorry to say that we British of course made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814.”

“I am sorry to say that we British of course made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814.”

King Charles alluded to the Boston Tea Party of 1773 when colonists dumped taxed British tea into the sea and humorously described the evening dinner as “a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party.”

“a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party.”

“a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party.”

King Charles also referenced more recent history by recalling his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 visit to the United States:

“When my mother visited in 1957 not the least of her tasks was to help put the special back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.”

“When my mother visited in 1957 not the least of her tasks was to help put the special back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.”

He continued with these remarks:

“Nearly 70 years on it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today.”

“Nearly 70 years on it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today.”

“but it is not hard to see how important the relationship remains in matters both seen and unseen.”

“but it is not hard to see how important the relationship remains in matters both seen and unseen.”

During the visit King Charles presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the bell of HMS Trump a submarine from the Second World War era. This gesture was interpreted as a symbolic reference to the historical ties between the two nations.

King Charles presented the gift with these words:

“May it stand as a testimony to our nations’ shared history and shining future. And should you ever need to get hold of us well just give us a ring.”

“May it stand as a testimony to our nations’ shared history and shining future. And should you ever need to get hold of us well just give us a ring.”

U.S. President Trump responded with the following remark:

“I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress. He got the Democrats to stand I’ve never been able to do that.”

“I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress. He got the Democrats to stand I’ve never been able to do that.”