King Charles III will embrace some of Washington’s most formal ceremonial trappings as he tries to emphasise a bond between the United Kingdom and the United States that is so strong it can withstand the political turmoil of the moment.
The visit comes at a challenging moment for US-UK relations.
US President Donald Trump’s up-and-down relationship with Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the president has sought to rally international support for the US-Israeli war in Iran.
The king, accompanied by Queen Camilla, will begin his day with a meeting at the White House with President Trump around 10:35 am ET.
The King is then scheduled to address the US Congress at 3 pm ET, the body’s first address from a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1991. The day will end with an expectedly buzzy dinner at the White House.
Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the US.
There’s no indication that he will do so, even as the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, the former Prince Andrew, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which the latter has denied.
US Representative Ro Khanna, D-Calif., urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.
Trump has maintained warm relations with the king. He has spoken in glowing terms about Charles, repeatedly referring to the monarch as his “friend” and a “great guy.”
He also continues to mention his “amazing” trip to the UK in September with Melania Trump for an unprecedented second state visit.
Starmer hand-delivered the invitation from the king in the Oval Office five weeks after Trump returned to office, in a very public attempt to woo the Republican president.
The UK royal family laid on pomp and pageantry for the Trumps, with scarlet-clad guardsmen, brass bands and a sumptuous banquet at Windsor Castle.