Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday afternoon for a four-day visit. The visit has gained added prominence following the White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting and growing tensions between the close allies.
The trip, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence and the first by a British monarch in two decades, is the most high-profile of Charles’ reign.
Charles and Camilla landed at Joint Base Andrews at around 2:30 p.m. ET (1830 GMT), where they were welcomed by diplomatic, state, and federal officials as well as senior members of the British embassy.
They also received flowers from children of British military families stationed in the United States.
The week's schedule also includes an address to Congress, a lavish state dinner at the White House and a stop in New York City.
The long-planned visit has become enmeshed in a political spat between the two countries over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which led President Donald Trump to voice deep displeasure with the British government for failing to support the offensive.
The shooting on Saturday (25 April) at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, where U.S. officials have said the president and members of his administration were the likely targets, has cast a further pall over the visit.
Buckingham Palace said the trip would still go ahead as planned following discussions between British and U.S. 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.
On arriving in Washington, the King and Queen had 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 to New York where they will commemorate those killed in the 11 September, 2001, attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary, while the Queen will also mark the centenary of children's stories featuring Winnie the Pooh.
The U.S. trip concludes in Virginia with the King meeting those involved in conservation work, a nod to his half-century of environmental campaigning.
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 U.S., Christian Turner, said the visit would underscore shared history, sacrifice and common values between the two countries, adding that the approach would be a very British one, "Keep calm, carry on."
An internal Pentagon email reportedly outlined possible measures including reviewing the U.S. position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as a response to perceived lack of support from allies in the Iran conflict.
The proposal is linked to wider tensions between Washington and NATO partners over military cooperation in the ongoing crisis.
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' brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose reputation and royal standing have been destroyed over his links to the late U.S. sex offender, is currently facing police inquiries over his connections. The former Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said it had struck U.S.-linked military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, claiming damage to air defences and radar sys...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to kno...
Oil prices fell on Tuesday as markets balanced reports of renewed diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran with continued military escala...
Andy Burnham has become the UK's new prime minister, completing a remarkable journey from leading Greater Manchester to leading the country. As he took office at Downing Street, people in the city where he served as mayor shared their hopes for Britain's new leader.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Britain’s incoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, plans to abandon the government’s digital ID programme as part of a wider effort to prioritise the cost of living and other everyday concerns.
Controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested in the United States on Saturday after British prosecutors filed fresh rape, trafficking and sexual assault charges against the brothers and requested their extradition to the UK.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Lionel Messi's Argentina face Spain in World Cup final with history on the line. Spain and Argentina meet on Sunday in the 2026 World Cup final, bringing together the reigning champions of Europe and South America.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
The United States launched fresh strikes against Iran after two U.S. service members were killed in Jordan. U.S. President Donald Trump paid tribute to the fallen troops as Iran warned of further escalation.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 21st of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Italian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters chanting "murderers" during demonstrations in the northern city of Bologna, over the death of a Moroccan businessman during an arrest attempt.
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on a broad range of Canadian imports, citing what the White House described as Canada's "discriminatory treatment" of American automobiles, alcohol and dairy products.
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has declared that the country will no longer hold elections, signalling a dramatic end to any remaining prospect of electoral competition and further consolidating the power he shares with his wife, Rosario Murillo.
Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, one of the founders of the powerful Sinaloa Cartel, was sentenced to life in prison in a U.S. federal court on Monday after pleading guilty to major drug trafficking charges.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment