King Charles III and Queen Camilla landed in the United States on Monday at Andrews military base near Washington for a four-day state visit, the first for the royal couple in the country. The plane with the Union Jack colors landed at a military base near Washington, where the couple was welcomed by several officials on a red carpet. Queen Camilla wore a brooch upon her arrival uniting the American and British flags, represented in gemstones.
The state visit, from April 27 to 30, is to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and celebrate the ties between the two countries.
The visit will proceed as planned,” the Buckingham Palace said on Sunday, a few hours after an armed assailant attempted to force entry to a dinner in the presence of the American president. The confirmation of the trip pleased the Republican leader, fascinated by the royal pomp, quick to praise the monarch while criticizing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“It’s a great guy,” Donald Trump said about the king in an interview with Fox News on Sunday, “he represents his country like no one else can.” Charles III was “very relieved” to hear that Donald Trump was safe after shots were fired during the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, outside the room where the president was.
The British Ambassador to the United States, Christian Turner, spoke on Sunday of the “huge excitement” of the American president for this visit, in which Donald Trump is returning the courtesy after being warmly received in the UK last year.
What’s on the agenda?
President and First Lady Melania Trump hosted their guests for a tea and a visit to the beehives at the White House.
On Tuesday, the most formal day of the trip will start with a military welcome ceremony. Donald Trump and Charles III will have a meeting in the Oval Office, while their spouses will attend an event focused on education and artificial intelligence.
The same day, the British sovereign is expected to give a speech before the American Congress – the first of its kind since Elizabeth II in 1991 – to ease current diplomatic tensions by invoking the longstanding relationship between the UK and its former colony turned superpower, with its highs and lows. The two couples will gather for a gala dinner in a reception room at the White House in the evening.
Heading to New York on Wednesday
Traveling to New York on Wednesday, the king and queen will visit the 9/11 Memorial. They will see Melania and Donald Trump one last time on Thursday before returning to the UK. Charles III will do everything to avoid any discordant note in this well-coordinated pomp due to the tension between London and Washington – a challenging task.
The monarch must avoid fueling the strong criticism in the UK regarding this unpopular trip, and ensure not to portray a humiliating march designed to soften the unpredictable American president. However, the monarch also has the implicit mission of appeasing Donald Trump, who is personally well-disposed towards him but put off by the British authorities’ reservations on issues like the war in Iran.
In addition to attacking Keir Starmer, the American president has disrupted the transatlantic “special relationship” by going after the British army and navy. He has also downplayed the sacrifices made by the British when fighting alongside Americans in Afghanistan.
The trip has another explosive issue in the background: the Epstein affair and the past friendship of the king’s brother, Andrew, with the late criminal. Commentators will be watching for any mention, even the most subtle, of this ongoing matter that continues to shake the British monarchy.
