WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will welcome Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States for a state visit from April 27 to April 30 as part of events marking the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The White House said President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will host the King and Queen at a state banquet on April 28. On the same day, King Charles is scheduled to address a joint meeting of Congress. The royal couple will also visit New York City and Virginia, where they are expected to participate in commemorations related to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The visit will be King Charles’ first official trip to the United States since ascending the throne in September 2022. It comes as the United States and the United Kingdom continue to emphasize their longstanding diplomatic, economic and security partnership.
The relationship between the two countries dates back to the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War and established Britain’s recognition of U.S. independence. Formal diplomatic relations followed in 1785.
The term “special relationship” gained prominence after British Prime Minister Winston Churchill used it in a 1946 speech highlighting the close strategic partnership between the two nations in the aftermath of World War II. Since then, the United States and the United Kingdom have remained key allies through NATO and on a range of international security and economic issues.
State visits between the two countries traditionally include the exchange of symbolic gifts reflecting their historical ties. During President Trump’s 2019 state visit to the United Kingdom, he and the First Lady presented Queen Elizabeth II with a silver and silk poppy brooch and gave Prince Philip a personalized Air Force One jacket. In return, Queen Elizabeth presented President Trump with a first edition of Winston Churchill’s The Second World War and a commemorative pen set.
The upcoming visit is expected to focus on celebrating the longstanding alliance between the two countries while highlighting their shared history as the United States marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.
