Britain’s King Charles III met Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, launching a high-stakes state visit overshadowed by transatlantic tensions and an alleged assassination attempt on the US leader.
Despite the cordial optics — with Charles and Queen Camilla warmly received by Trump and First Lady Melania Trump — the visit comes amid strains in the so-called “special relationship” between United States and United Kingdom over Washington’s war in Iran.
Charles is set to address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday, where he will emphasize a shared history of “reconciliation and renewal,” according to excerpts from his prepared remarks. The meeting at the White House South Portico featured handshakes and brief exchanges, while Melania greeted the royal couple with cheek kisses. Camilla wore a Cartier brooch symbolizing both nations’ flags.
Trump — long known for his fascination with the British monarchy — hosted the royals for tea and a tour of the White House grounds, including the South Lawn. Later, the couple attended a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence alongside dignitaries such as Olympic diver Tom Daley and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Originally intended to celebrate 250 years of US independence from the reign of George III, the four-day visit has taken on a more delicate tone. The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, said the trip aims to honor enduring ties, but it unfolds against Trump’s sharp criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for opposing the Iran war.
Security has been tightened further following a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where a suspect allegedly attempted to assassinate Trump and was later arraigned.
The visit continues with meetings in the Oval Office and a state dinner, while Charles is set to become the first British monarch to address Congress since Elizabeth II in 1991. The royals will also travel to New York to visit the National September 11 Memorial & Museum before heading to Bermuda.
Trump has repeatedly criticized Starmer — even calling him “no Winston Churchill” — highlighting the widening policy divide. While Starmer has opposed the war, he has defended hosting the royal visit, despite mixed public opinion in Britain.
Trump has suggested the visit could help repair relations, praising Charles’s symbolic role. The trip also carries personal weight for the king, who has been undergoing cancer treatment, and is seen as a test of his diplomatic skill in navigating what analysts describe as the “elephant in the room” — the Iran conflict.
Meanwhile, lingering controversy linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to members of the royal family threatens to cast a shadow over the carefully managed tour.
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