King Charles III Embarks on First US State Visit, Congressional Address Planned

King Charles III is scheduled to embark on his inaugural state visit to the United States this month, accompanied by Queen Camilla.

The four-day trip, commencing April 27, aims to acknowledge the extensive shared history between the two nations and the depth of their ongoing connections, Buckingham Palace announced.

A central event of the visit will be King Charles’s address to the US Congress, marking him as the first British monarch to do so since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, delivered a speech in 1991. US Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed the address for April 28, though Buckingham Palace has yet to specify the exact date for the royal speech.

The visit occurs amidst some political dynamics. Certain British politicians had advocated for the trip’s postponement or cancellation due to open disagreements between former US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer concerning the Iran war.

However, Starmer affirmed on Monday that the “very important” visit would proceed, highlighting the monarchy’s enduring capacity to forge lasting bonds. President Trump, for his part, expressed enthusiasm on his Truth Social platform, stating the visit “will be TERRIFIC.”

During their time in Washington, D.C., the King and Queen Camilla will meet with President Trump and First Lady Melania for tea. Their itinerary also includes a state dinner and a military review.

This continues a pattern of royal interactions with Trump, who was hosted for a lavish state visit by Charles and Camilla in September, and previously by the late Queen Elizabeth in 2019—an unprecedented second state visit for him.

The monarch’s visit also faces scrutiny regarding his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who is under UK police investigation for his associations with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

A US lawmaker and the family of Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who passed away last year, had urged King Charles to meet survivors of Epstein’s crimes during his state visit. However, a source from Britain’s Press Association indicated that such a meeting would not be possible, citing potential interference with ongoing police inquiries or legal proceedings.

Following their engagements in Washington, the royal couple will travel to New York City. There, they plan to meet with first responders and families affected by the 9/11 attacks, nearly 25 years after the tragedy. King Charles is also set to engage with business leaders and attend a reception showcasing cultural ties and his charity, The King’s Trust, which supports disadvantaged young people.

Their journey will then take them to Virginia, a state historically significant as the location of some of the earliest English colonies. In Virginia, they will participate in a street celebration commemorating the anniversary of the 1776 Declaration of Independence.

The final leg of their tour on May 1 will be Bermuda, marking King Charles’s first visit to the archipelago as monarch. Queen Elizabeth last visited Bermuda in 2009.