U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Washington at the start of a four-day state visit aimed at underscoring the longstanding ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The leaders posed for an official photograph during a formal reception at the White House, marking the opening of a visit described by officials as rich in symbolism and diplomatic significance.
The White House said the visit honors the deep and historic relationship between the two nations as Americans commemorate the 250th anniversary of independence.
The trip follows what was described as a historic state visit by President Trump to the United Kingdom last September, making him the first U.S. president to be invited for a second state visit.
Trump previously visited Britain in 2019 during his first term, when he was received by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
For King Charles III, the current trip marks his first state visit to the United States since ascending the throne. Queen Elizabeth II had made four such visits during her reign in 1957, 1976, 1991, and 2007.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump praised King Charles III as courageous and commended his ability to represent his country, signaling a continued commitment to strong bilateral relations.
The visit’s program began with a tea reception at the White House, followed by a tour of the presidential residence’s beehives.
On Tuesday, Trump and King Charles III are scheduled to hold talks in the Oval Office, while their spouses attend an event focused on education and artificial intelligence.
Later that day, the British monarch is expected to address the U.S. Congress, becoming the first British sovereign to do so since Queen Elizabeth II’s speech in 1991. The address is anticipated to highlight the depth of ties forged over more than two and a half centuries of shared history.
A state dinner at the White House will take place Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, the royal couple will travel to New York, where they will observe a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks and participate in cultural and social engagements.
The visit will conclude on Thursday with a return to Washington. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to visit Arlington National Cemetery and meet again with President Trump and the First Lady before departing, bringing an end to a closely watched diplomatic engagement.
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