Trump hails ‘special relationship’ during ceremonial welcome for King Charles’s state visit

Donald Trump has praised the “special relationship” between the US and the UK, as he hosted a ceremonial military welcome for Charles and Camilla at the White House.

Against a backdrop of recent tensions between London and Washington, the US president, speaking on the second day of King Charles’s state visit, said: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”

He paid tribute to the “essence” of the “special relationship” in the wake of the second world war, saying: “That understanding of our nation’s unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship and we hope it will always remain that way.”

Charles’s diplomatically sensitive visit comes amid public criticism by Trump of Keir Starmer over the war in Iran. Officials in Downing Street will be hoping the royal family’s soft power diplomacy can help heal the rift.

During the formal welcome, Trump said it was a “tremendous privilege to host” the royal couple, called Charles a “very elegant man”, praised the late Queen Elizabeth II as a “very special woman” and revealed his mother, Mary, had a “crush” on the king when he was younger.

The president and Melania Trump staged an unprecedented military ceremony for their royal guests with Charles and Camilla watching the display in Washington DC with their hosts, alongside a group of invited dignitaries and hundreds of spectators.

The royal couple had arrived in Washington on Monday for the start of a four-day state visit to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Later on Tuesday Charles is expected to allude to recent strains between the UK and US when he gives a rare address by a monarch to the US Congress, as he will underline that “time and again our two countries have always found ways to come together”.

His speech to both houses on Tuesday comes after Trump had threatened to tear up a trade deal signed by the UK and US, mocked the Royal Navy and insulted the UK prime minister.