King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Visit the United States in Late April
- The king and queen will visit the United States for the first time at the end of April.
- Amid tensions between Washington and London, this visit has caused some discomfort.
- A big admirer of the royal family, Donald Trump expressed his eagerness to meet the king in mid-March.
The Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday, March 31 that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will make a state visit to the United States at the end of April. The announcement has sparked controversy amidst the war in the Middle East and tensions between Washington and London. Their program will “celebrate the historical ties and current bilateral relations between the UK and the United States, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of American independence,” according to a statement.
The dates of this visit, the first for Charles III, will be announced later, the palace added. The king and queen will then travel to Bermuda, marking the first visit by the monarch to a UK Overseas Territory since his accession to the throne in September 2022.
Trump, a Fan of the British Royal Family
London and Washington, connected by 250 years of history, have built a “special relationship” characterized by very close diplomatic, military, and economic ties. During his reign, Queen Elizabeth II was received four times for state visits to the United States, including in 1976 to celebrate the bicentennial of American independence and in 1991, with a historic address to the US Congress.
Donald Trump, known for his admiration of the royal family, stated in mid-March at the White House that he was “really excited to see the king.” The American president himself was received for a state visit to the UK for the second time in September, enjoying all the royal pomp, from the carriage procession to the sumptuous banquet at Windsor Castle. According to the American ambassador to London, Warren Stephens, the House of Representatives President Mike Johnson suggested that Charles III deliver a speech in front of both houses of the US Congress.
Strained Relations between London and Washington
This visit to the United States comes amid the war in the Middle East, triggered on February 28 by American-Israeli strikes against Iran, with global economic repercussions. Donald Trump has not held back in criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer since the start of the conflict, accusing the British leader of lukewarm support for his great American ally.
“This is not the Winston Churchill we are dealing with,” he stung at the beginning of March, expressing his dissatisfaction with London’s initial refusal to allow the US to use its military bases. The Labour leader assured that despite these statements, the “special relationship” with Washington was on “track.” His government, in power since July 2024, took care to maintain its relations with the Trump administration, boasting of receiving better treatment than many countries, especially in tariff negotiations.
Fear of an “Embarrassing” Situation
According to a YouGov survey published on Thursday, nearly half of Britons (49%) are against this visit. Several British MPs also oppose it. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey stated that this honor “should not be given to someone who insults and harms our country repeatedly.”
Emily Thornberry, the president of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, also considered it “safer to postpone” the visit, fearing that Charles and Camilla might find themselves in an “embarrassing” situation. Charles III, who strictly maintains political neutrality, has not publicly commented on the President’s desires to make Canada – whose head of state is the king – the 51st US state. This did not prevent him from defending the sovereignty of the country during a highly symbolic visit in May 2025.
At 77 years old, King Charles has faced several major crises during his more than three years of reign. He was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, for which he is still receiving treatment. He is also dealing with the repercussions of the Jeffrey Epstein affair, which led to the arrest of his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in February for allegedly passing confidential information to the American pedocriminal and financier in 2019.
