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King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for high-profile US state visit
TL;DR
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the US for a four-day state visit, marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. This is the first visit by a British monarch to the US in two decades.
Key points
- King Charles and Queen Camilla are on a four-day state visit to the US
- The visit marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence
- This is the first visit by a British monarch to the US in two decades
- They arrived at Joint Base Andrews and were greeted by officials
- The schedule includes an address to Congress and a state dinner
Mentioned in this story
King CharlesQueen CamillaWhite HouseUnited States
Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the United States for a four-day trip, a tour that has taken on even greater prominence after the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting and amid acrimony between the close allies.
The state visit on Monday afternoon, 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.
Charles and Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews around 2:30pm (18:30 GMT), when they were greeted by diplomatic, state, and federal officials, as well as senior members of the British embassy, and accepted flowers from the children of British military families stationed in the US.
The king, sporting a navy suit, and the queen, wearing a pink dress, stood on the tarmac while a military band played the British and US national anthems, before they headed to the White House for a private meeting with self-proclaimed royal fan President Donald Trump.
The week’s schedule also includes an address to the US Congress, a lavish state dinner at the White House, and a stop in New York City.
Press dinner shooting just days before visit
The long-planned visit has become enmeshed in a political spat between the two countries over the US-Israel 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, where US 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 on Sunday that the king “is greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed”. After a security review, the palace said the trip “will proceed as planned”.
Trump has criticised the UK over Iran stance
On arriving in Washington, the king and queen are scheduled to 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 cancer treatment that began in February 2024, 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 City, 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.
Q&A
What is the significance of King Charles's state visit to the US?
The visit marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence from British rule and is the first by a British monarch in twenty years.
What events are scheduled during King Charles's visit to the US?
The schedule includes an address to the US Congress, a state dinner at the White House, and a stop in New York City.
When did King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in the US?
They arrived at Joint Base Andrews at around 2:30 PM local time on Monday.
Who greeted King Charles and Queen Camilla upon their arrival in the US?
They were greeted by diplomatic, state, and federal officials, as well as senior members of the British embassy and children of British military families.
