Two and a half centuries after the American colonies declared their independence from the United Kingdom under King George III, his descendant King Charles III arrived in the United States on Monday as transatlantic relations are strained and international security is in the spotlight.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla upon their arrival. They posed for photos and exchanged words before moving to the Green Room. The couple then visited the South Lawn to admire a new beehive in the shape of the White House, installed the previous week by the First Lady.
Both King Charles and Queen Camilla are dedicated beekeepers. The king owns at least three hives at his private residence in England, showing his commitment to the environment and sustainable development.
After their visit to the White House, the royal couple attended an outdoor reception at the British embassy.
Trump praises the king, but criticizes Starmer
Recent tensions between the British government and Donald Trump, particularly concerning the war in Iran, had made the visit of the British monarch politically delicate.
In recent weeks, Mr. Trump has strongly criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to participate in US military strikes against Iran, calling him “not Winston Churchill”, the Prime Minister of World War II who coined the term “special relationship” to describe the ties between the UK and the US.
This is part of a wider disagreement between Mr. Trump and US NATO allies, whom he has described as “cowards” and “useless” for refusing to join the attack on Iran.
An email leaked from the Pentagon suggested that the US might reconsider its support for UK sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. Britain and Argentina fought a war in 1982 over these islands, also known as the Islas Malvinas.
The president assures that this political chill will not affect the royal visit. “King Charles has nothing to do with that,” Mr. Trump declared in March, referring to NATO.
The president speaks highly of the king, repeatedly calling him a “friend” and a “good guy”.
He also reminisces about his “incredible” trip to the UK in September with the first lady for an unprecedented second state visit.
Starmer hand-delivered the king’s invitation to the Oval Office five weeks after Mr. Trump returned to the White House, in a highly publicized attempt to court the Republican president.
The British royal family hosted a lavish reception for the Trumps, with scarlet-clad guards, trumpeters, and a sumptuous banquet at Windsor Castle.
President Trump has always had great respect for King Charles, and their relationship has been further strengthened by the president’s historic visit to the UK last year, said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly to the Associated Press. The president looks forward to the special visit of Their Majesties, which will include a magnificent state dinner and numerous events throughout the week.
Mr. Trump, on the other hand, told the BBC that the king’s visit could “absolutely” help repair transatlantic relations.
“He is fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely, the answer is yes,” the president affirmed.
Some have called for the cancellation of the trip
Kristofer Allerfeldt, a professor at the University of Exeter and expert in American history, explained that the two governments had very different objectives for this trip.
For Charles, this visit aims to “strengthen long-standing ties, showcase the persuasive power of the monarchy, and remind the world that Britain maintains its diplomatic weight.”
For Donald Trump, it is more of a “media event,” with the emphasis on the image of a visit resembling a meeting between “two prestigious monarchs.”
Some British politicians fear that this trip may cause embarrassment. Recent attacks by Mr. Trump on Pope Leon XIV have heightened these concerns.
Ed Davey, leader of the British centrist opposition party, the Liberal Democrats, called Donald Trump a “dangerous and corrupt gangster” and urged the government to cancel the trip.
“I really fear what Mr. Trump might say or do while our king is forced to stand by his side,” Mr. Davey said in the House of Commons. We cannot put His Majesty in such a situation.
Mr. Starmer defended the visit, stating that “the monarchy, through the ties it builds, is often able to span decades and consolidate important relationships.”
The shadow of Andrew and Epstein looms
The situation is further tense as the king’s younger brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has been stripped of his royal title of Prince Andrew, exiled from public life, and is under police investigation for his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. He denies committing any crime.
Epstein’s victims have urged the king to meet with them, as well as other survivors of sexual abuse. It is unlikely that he will agree to their request.
Prince Charles has visited the US 19 times, but this is his first state visit to the country since ascending the throne in 2022. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has made four state visits to the United States.
The 77-year-old king, who was diagnosed with undisclosed cancer at the beginning of 2024, will spend four days in the United States with Queen Camilla.
The king and queen will attend an official state dinner at the White House on Tuesday.
The royal couple will also visit the 9/11 Memorial in New York and participate in a neighborhood party organized in Virginia for the 250th anniversary of the monarchy. Prince Charles will meet with indigenous leaders committed to nature conservation, a cause close to his heart.
Three centuries after the kings and queens of Britain renounced any real political power, the royal family remains a symbol of influence, mobilized by elected governments to soothe international relations and convey messages about the values that the UK considers important.
A key moment will be the king’s speech to the American Congress on Tuesday. It is only the second time, after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, that a British monarch has addressed both houses in a joint session.
During that visit, the queen praised liberalism, spoke out against the idea that “power comes from the strength of arms,” and hailed the “rich ethnic and cultural diversity of our two societies.”
The king’s cherished causes, including the environment and interfaith harmony, contrast with those of Donald Trump. It is unlikely he will emphasize the differences, but Mr. Allerfeldt noted that, with the subtlety he is known for, the king may use his speech to convey a message.
