Once again, we had an historic visit from the King and Queen of the United Kingdom. The last visit was from Queen Elizabeth in 1991 when she came to talk to Congress. This time King Charles and Queen Camilla came to America for a four-day state visit to mark the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, they have come to celebrate the close ties between the two nations.
Upon their arrival at Joint Base Andrews the King and Queen were received by the chief of protocol of the United States Ambassador to England Monica Crowley and his Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States Sir Christen Turner. The King and Queen were presented with posies from children of British military families based in the U.S. Then were greeted by diplomatic federal and state representatives which included members of the British Embassy in Washington and representatives of the U.S. Government.
They proceeded through an honored cordon formed by the US. Military personnel. The U. S. military band played the national anthem of the United Kingdom and the United States as an honor to the event and a symbol of unity for both nations.
While at the White House, together with the president and the first lady. they met for tea and were shown a tour of the White House and the president’s personal gardens. King Charles is known for his fondness of honeybees he has some in England on some of his personal estates. The presidential gardens were formally established in 2009, the beekeeping supports the pollination of nearby gardens while serving as an enduring feature of the White House grounds. The first lady recently unveiled a newly installed beehive on the south lawn, crafted in the shape of the White House.
Next on their trip was a visit to the Ambassador’s garden party held in special honor of the state visit. The King and Queen met guests representing the wide range and historic connections between the United States and the United Kingdom.
King George VI visit to U.S. 1939
The last time an Ambassador of the United Kingdom held a garden party was in June 1939 for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
Before joining guests at the Ambassadors estate in Washington they viewed a time capsule marked to commemorate this historic event. The 250th anniversary time capsule will be paired with another time capsule placed under the George Washington statue in Trafalgar Square to be opened on America’s quincentennial anniversary.
The King and Queen had the opportunity to include a commemorative coin, created by the Royal Mint for the occasion. The capsule also includes a proclamation from his majesty and essays written by the local Washington School children.
In the garden, they joined over 600 guests from politics, science and charities, community organizations, and the creative industries across the US.
On April 28 the King and Queen carried out a series of engagements in Washington DC including a ceremonial welcome at the White House, an address to a joint meeting of Congress, followed by meetings with tech leaders and a State dinner hosted by the President and the First Lady. They were formally welcomed to the United States with a military ceremony on the south lawn of the White House.
The highest diplomatic honor extended to a vising Head of State. Following introductions to the official delegations of both nations. The King and the Queen joined the President and the First Lady for a 21-gun salute, the playing the national athames and an inspection of the troupes by his majesty and the President.
The ceremony featured representatives from all six branches of the United States armed forces, including a historic first appearance by the United States Space Force Honor Guard at the White House. Ahead of the formal proceedings, more than 200 performers took part in pre-ceremony display, including the Marine Drum & Bugel Corps, Army Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps, Navy Band, Air Force Band, and the Navy Sea Chanters.
The U.S. Marine Band performed the two countries national anthems and accompanied the troop inspection concluding with “Stars and Stripes Forever”. At the close of the ceremony their Majesties and the President and the First Lady observed a “Pass in Review” from the South Portico balcony involving nearly 500 members of the US. Armed Forces.
After the ceremony at the White House, The King met with members of the representatives, before he made his historic speech to Congress. Some compared this speech to Congress to the last visit from Queen Elizabeth II on May 16th, 1991. During the address in 1991, she emphasized that shared democratic values are an important shared belief that both of our nations share.
The Queen highlighted the common foundation of both countries, that Congress and Parliament are “twin pillars” of western civilizations. She noted that while democracies are structured differently, they share foundational beliefs in individual freedom and the rule of law. She talked about transatlantic unity, stressed the importance of Europeans and Americans working together, and praised their recent cooperation in the Gulf War as an example of their shared resolve against aggression.
Queen Elizabeth II address to Congress 1991
She thanked the American people for their steadfast partnership. Queen Elisabeth II talked about the special relationship and enduring democratic values, shared history and close alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States. She acknowledged the broader geopolitical shifts of time, such as the revolutions of 1989 in Eastern Europe that would lead to the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union at the end of 1991. She also celebrated how the UN had become an essential instrument in the promotion of peace and cooperation.
“Unfortunately, experience shows that great enterprises seldom end with a tidy and satisfactory flourish. Together we are doing our best to reestablish peace and civil order in the region and to help those members of ethnic and religious minorities who continue to suffer through no fault of their own. If we succeed, our military success will have achieved its true objectives.”
She stressed that the primary interest of our nations’ is not domination, but stability, so that ordinary men and women everywhere can get on with their lives in confidence. That message carries great resonance today as instability and struggling economies are impacting people across the world.
When King Charales spoke in front of Congress he went on to say. “Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of Congress, representives of people across all states, territories, cities, and communities.”
“I would like to take the opportunity to express my particular gratitude to you all for this great honor of addressing this joint meeting of Congress on behalf of the Queen and myself. To thank the American people for welcoming us to the United States to mark this year of the Declaration of Independence, and for all time, our destinies as Nations have been interlinked.”
The Congress stood a clapped, the whole room filled with applause. He graciously smiled at his audience and continued with his speech. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries.
“Standing here today it is not hard to feel the weight of history on my shoulders, because the modern relationship between our two Nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries.” Charles continued his speech after a standing ovation. The Congress seamed very excited, they continued with repeated standing ovations during his speech. The King was extremely gracious and continued his speech respectably.
“We meet too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to forment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakable resolve such acts of violence will never succeed. Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all people from harm. I salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of your country.”
“It is extradentary to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of Sovereigns to study, with daily attention, the affairs of America. So, I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress, this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of the people to advance sacred rights and freedoms. Speaking here in this chamber of debate and deliberation, I cannot help but to think of my late Mother Queen Elizabeth, who in 1991, was also afforded this signal honor and similarly spoke under the watchful eye of the statue of freedom above us.”
The King, then lightened the moment with humor, the Congress laughed in amusement regarding the historical exchange of leaders in previous times. The King continued to talk about that even in times of war, when we came together to fight together as allies. That our unity is a special relationship with common democratic values.
The King continue his speech. “This is no means my first visit to Washington D.C., the capitol 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. This is a city which symbolizes a period in our shared history. The founding fathers were bold and imaginative.”
A look of sincerity came over the King’s face, and he spoke. “By balancing contending forces and drawing strength in diversity, they united the 13 desperate colonies to forge a Nation on revolutionary idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They carried with them and carried forward, the great inheritance of the British Enlightenment, as well as the deals which had an even deeper history in English Common-law and the Magna Carta.” The king continued inspired by his heartfelt words.
“These roots run deep and they are still vital. Our Declaration of Rights of 1689 was not only the foundation for our constitutional Monarchy but also provided the source of so many of the principles reiterated, often verbatim, in the American Bill of Rights of 1791, those roots go even further back in our history.”
“The U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that the Magna Carta has been sighted in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances. This is the reason why there stands a stone by the River Thames at Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed in the year 1215.”
“This stone records that an acre of that ancient and historical site was given to the United States by the people of the United Kingdom, to symbolize our shared resolve in support of liberty, and in memory of President John F. Kennedy.” The King said with compassion. “Distinguished members of the 119th Congress it is here in these very halls that the spirit of liberty and the promise of American’s founders is present in every session and every vote cast.”
“Not by the will of one, but by the deliberation of many representing the living mosaic of the United States, in both our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse, and free societies that gives us our collective strength. Including support victims of some of the ills that so tragically exists in both our societies today.”
He went on to say how faith and Christianity have shaped western civilization, how we embrace faith as part of our culture and values. He talked about 9-11 and how it impacted the world we live in today. He stressed the Ukraine War must end, and he also wants peace in Europe. Many problems we face today are affecting both Nations. As allies we can be strong together to preserve our shared values for our people and future generations.
He ended with “I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and in the Commonwealth and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward.” He spoke. “Mr. Speaker, Vice President, distinguished ladies abd gentlemen. America’s words carry weight and meaning as they have since independence. The actions of this Nation matter even more.”
“President Lincion understood this so well with his magisterial Gettysburg Address that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do, and so, to the United States of America, on your 250th birthday. Let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our people and all the people of the world. God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.”
The Congress and the Vice President all stood up with an ovation of applause. The King thanked the Speaker and the Vice President. He joined the Queen to get ready for the State dinner.
President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump, hosted King Chasrles III and Queen Camilla for a state dinner at the White House on April 28, 2026. The formal event celebrated 250 years of shared history between the U.S. and UK, our heritage, and the enduring special relationship between the two nations. Following King Charles prior address to the Congress, the royal couple attended a dazzling evening reception and dinner at the White House. First Lady Melania Trump designed the gathering which brought together over 100 distinguished guests from politics, business, and culture.
The dress code was black tie, the president and the king wore tails and white waistcoats. Queen Camilla wore a pink London based evening gown by Fiona Clare, accessorized with a historic family amethyst and diamond necklace. While First Lady Melania Trump wore a strapless pink Chirstian Dior haute couture gown, paired with white gloves. The elegant menu curated by the White House featured classic upscaled American cuisine. Dover sole meuniere and spring herbed ravioli.
The Evening was marked by historic and lighthearted remarks. King Charles made headlines by joking about his ancestor King George III and playfully referencing the British attempt at White House redevelopment during the War of 1812. President Trump praised the King’s well received speech to Congress and noted the dinner was a highly significant moment for both the United Kingdom and the United States. The King expressed his gratitude to the president and the first lady for their hospitality while on their trip here to America.
On the final 4th day of the state visit, he King and Queen brought their time in Washington DC To a close with a formal farewell to the President and the First Lady. An occasion that marked both an ending and reaffirmation of the enduring relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. This has been a historic visit that will be remembered as part of history.
