State visit by Charles III to the United States
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Queen Camilla
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| Date | 27 to 30 April 2026 |
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| Location | Washington, D.C., New York, and Virginia |
| Type | State visit |
| Participants | King Charles III Queen Camilla |
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Personal Life as Prince of Wales Reign Charities and campaigns |
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King Charles III of the United Kingdom and his wife Queen Camilla made a state visit to the United States from 27 to 30 April 2026, hosted by President Donald Trump. It was the first state visit by a British monarch since May 2007, when Charles's mother Queen Elizabeth II was hosted by President George W. Bush. Trump had previously made two state visits to the United Kingdom in 2019 and 2025. This is the second state visit hosted by President Trump and the first of his second presidency.[1]
Security
The visit coincides with the United States Semiquincentennial, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Buckingham Palace stated that the trip would highlight the "historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship".[2][3] The relationship between the King's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Jeffrey Epstein has been the subject of hearings by the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.[2]
Due to the 2026 US and Israeli war on Iran, several British MPs urged the prime minister, Keir Starmer, to cancel the King and Queen's state visit.[4] This was because Trump's stance – which included threats to destroy Iranian civilisation – was seen as aggressive. The consequences of the war, including the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, were perceived negatively by the UK, due to economic risks. Starmer said that the King could use the visit to mend the rift between the two countries.[5]
Charles is not expected to meet his younger son, Prince Harry, or his family, who live in California, during the visit.[2][6]
Trump wrote on Truth Social that he was "look[ing] forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!"[6] He later told the BBC that the King's state visit could "absolutely" help repair relations between the two countries.[7]
After a gunman attempted to enter the White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by the US president in Washington, D.C. on 25 April,[8] Buckingham Palace confirmed that the state visit would still proceed,[9] but that security arrangements had been reassessed and increased, with no specifics announced.[9][10]
Following the shooting, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said that the visit would have "appropriate security in place in relation to the risk". The Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, said that it was vital for the King to be properly protected and urged both US and UK security teams to review the King's security arrangements.[11]
Sean Coughlan, BBC News' royal correspondent, and Bernd Debusmann Jr, BBC News' White House reporter, both noted the "enormous security presence", these included a visible police presence around the White House, closed roads with an entire block of Pennsylvania Avenue closed to traffic, workers in nearby office buildings including the Irish embassy having their identification checked, barriers being created by construction lorries and dump trucks parked across streets including Pennsylvania Avenue, and a tent blocking dignitaries being seen getting in and out of vehicles. Debusmann remarked that it was a "rare measure that I’ve only seen on particularly high-profile visits, such as that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky".[12][13]
Commentary
The visit is expected to address a number of diplomatic challenges within the "Special Relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States.[2] Stephen Bates of The Guardian wrote that it would take place amid American criticism of the British armed forces and the UK government's efforts to maintain the Special Relationship.[14] Writing ahead of the visit, a BBC News journalist suggested that Charles would "have some heavy lifting to do" to ensure Trump viewed the UK and its government favourably.[2] ITV News royal editor Chris Ship believed this visit would be "the most risky diplomatic trip of King Charles' reign so far".[15] On the first day of the visit, remarks made to British students in February 2026 by the British ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, were made public by the Financial Times; these included comments criticising the lack of response to the Epstein files in the US (as compared to the UK), as well as comments that the term "special relationship" as used to describe US-UK relations "quite nostalgic, it's quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of baggage about it".[16] He also added that "I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States — and that is probably Israel".[16]
US congressman Ro Khanna criticised the decision not to meet victims of Epstein, arguing that it could damage the monarchy's credibility in the United States.[3] However, the ongoing police investigation into Andrew's links with Epstein would prevent such a meeting from taking place.[17] A Buckingham Palace source told BBC News that "We fully understand and appreciate the survivors' position, but can only reiterate that our position is clear that anything that could potentially impact on ongoing police inquiries and assessments, and any potential legal action that could result from that, would be to the detriment of the survivors themselves in their pursuit of justice".[18]
Visit
The King and Queen visited Washington, D.C., New York City, and Virginia.[19] They were staying at Blair House, opposite the White House, known as "The President's Guest House".[20]
27 April (Monday)
King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled on the UK Government Airbus A321LR operated by Titan Airways[21][22] to Joint Base Andrews, a United States military facility in Prince George's County, Maryland.[23][20] They were first met[24] by Monica Crowley,[25] the Chief of Protocol of the United States, then by Sir Christian Turner, the British Ambassador to the United States.[26][20] On arriving at the White House, they were received by the President and First Lady at the South Portico.[27][20] Photographs of the Trumps greeting the King and Queen showed a painting behind them depicting the raised-fist image taken after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania in July 2024 during the 2024 presidential election. [28] The royals and the Trumps then had afternoon tea in the Green Room on the State Floor.[29][30][20] Afterwards, the Trumps gave the King and Queen a tour of the South Lawn, which included a visit to a newly expanded beehive in the shape of the White House near the White House Kitchen Garden.[31][20][30]
The King and Queen then left the White House for a garden party at the British embassy.[32][30][20] The menu, organised by the embassy's Head Chef, Craig Harnden, included scones and 3,000 sandwiches in four varieties: egg mayonnaise, cucumber, Scottish smoked salmon, and roast beef with horseradish. BBC News noted that the use of British roast beef carried wider UK-US political and trade symbolism, as tariffs had recently been dropped by the US.[33] The party had 650 guests "representing the connection between the US and UK".[20] Guests included US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and retired Olympic diver Tom Daley.[34][35] During the event, Queen Camilla met representatives from campaign groups against domestic abuse and violence against women, including Sandra Jackson, chief executive of House of Ruth.[36] There had been calls for the royals to meet survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but this did not take place "because of concerns about jeopardising the legal processes".[36][37]
28 April (Tuesday)
The Trumps hosted a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House for the King and Queen, featuring military honours by the US Army Herald Trumpets, the UK and US national anthems by "The President's Own" US Marine Band, a 21-gun cannon salute by the Presidential Salute Battery, an inspection of the Troops, and a speech delivered by President Trump.[30][38][20] After the ceremony, the royals participated in a pass in review of 300 US Service Members and 500 members of the US Armed Forces from all six military branches, a historic first for state visits.[20]
The President and the King also held a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office which was not open to the media, while the First Lady and the Queen visited the White House Tennis Pavilion for an educational event with students exploring US–UK history and AI technology.[39][40]
The King addressed a joint meeting of the United States Congress.[41][30][37][20] This was only the second address to a joint meeting of Congress by a British monarch, the first being Queen Elizabeth II's address in 1991.[37][30][20] The King's speech received about 12 standing ovations in total.[42]
A state banquet in honour of the King and Queen took place at the White House, with speeches by both the King and the President.[30][43][44] During his speech, the King gifted the President with an original bell that once hung aboard the HMS Trump.[45]
29 April (Wednesday)
The royal couple travelled to New York City, where they visited the September 11 Memorial, and met first responders and families of victims. Charles and Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani met at the September 11 Memorial.[46] Separately, Mamdani indicated a desire to encourage Charles to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond.[47][48]
The Queen attended an event at the New York Public Library marking the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh, with Queen Camilla completing the Library's collection of characters by presenting a specially made toy of Roo.[37][49][50] The Queen was joined by Sarah Jessica Parker and Anna Wintour for the event.[51] Meanwhile, the King headed to an education and healthy food initiative in Harlem called Harlem Grown[52] and later attended a UK-US Trade and Business event at the Rockefeller Center.[53]
The King and Queen concluded their day in New York City at the Christie's auction house for a reception in partnership with his charity, the King's Trust. The royals were joined by a number of celebrities, including Lionel Richie, Anna Wintour, Charlotte Tilbury and Donatella Versace.[53]
To commemorate this royal visit, the Empire State Building was illuminated in the colours of the Union Jack.[54]
30 April (Thursday)
Before heading to Virginia, on Thursday morning the King and Queen had said their official farewells at the White House to President Trump and the First Lady.[55] At the conclusion of the state visit, Trump said that "in honor of the King and Queen", he would remove tariffs on Scottish whisky.[56] The royal couple then paid their respects at Arlington National Cemetery, where they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a gun salute was fired.[57]
The King and Queen visited Front Royal, Virginia, to attend a block party hosted by America250 that included performances by Appalachian cultural groups.[58] The King then visited the Shenandoah National Park and the Queen toured a local farm focused on horseracing.[30][59][60]
After the state visit, Charles departed from the United States, his plane taking off from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. He travelled alone to Bermuda for a royal visit, the first of his reign to a British Overseas Territory.[30][43][20]
Gallery
King Charles III and Queen Camilla being received by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the South Portico of the White House
The President and the First Lady hosting the King and Queen for afternoon tea in the Green Room
The Trumps giving the King and Queen a tour of the South Lawn, which included a visit to a newly expanded beehive in the shape of the White House
The Trumps hosted a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House for the King and Queen
The pass in review held as part of the State Arrival Ceremony
The King and the President inspecting troops
The President making remarks during the State Arrival Ceremony
The President and the King holding bilateral talks in the Oval Office
The First Lady and the Queen visiting the White House Tennis Pavilion for a youth educational event focusing on US–UK history and technology
The King addressing a joint meeting of the United States Congress
The King and Queen arriving for the state banquet
The King proposing a toast after his speech at the state banquet
The King and Queen visiting the Arlington National Cemetery to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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