WASHINGTON — King Charles III arrived in Washington on Monday for a four-day state visit to the United States, where he is scheduled to hold a private meeting with President Donald Trump amid strained trans-Atlantic relations linked to the ongoing Iran crisis.
The British monarch and Queen Camilla were welcomed by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with a private tea at the White House, followed by a ceremonial welcome and military review, according to Buckingham Palace and the White House. The visit marks the first state visit by King Charles as monarch and coincides with preparations to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
King Charles is expected to hold bilateral talks with President Trump in the Oval Office later Monday. He is also scheduled to address a joint meeting of Congress during the visit, the second time a British monarch has done so after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. A state dinner at the White House is planned for Tuesday evening.
The trip comes days after a shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, where a suspect attempted to enter the venue while President Trump was in attendance. The president and other officials were evacuated unharmed, and the suspect was apprehended. Officials confirmed the king’s visit would proceed despite the security review prompted by the incident.
Relations between the U.S. and U.K. have faced challenges in recent months amid the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and differing positions on related issues. British officials have expressed hope that the royal visit will help strengthen ties. Details of the agenda for the private meeting between King Charles and President Trump, including any discussion of the Iran situation or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, were not immediately released.
The state visit includes stops in Washington, with later travel planned to New York and Virginia. Queen Camilla is expected to meet with representatives from groups focused on domestic abuse and violence against women.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said the visit aims to renew and deepen the partnership between the two countries. President Trump has previously described the upcoming meeting positively, stating he looks forward to spending time with the king.
As of Monday evening, the king and queen had arrived in Washington and begun their official engagements. Further details on outcomes from the bilateral meeting were expected in the coming days. The visit is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.
