During his historic State Visit, King Charles addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington DC, delivering a speech applauded 22 times whilst calling for a renewed UK-US special relationship over America First policy
The King has called on Donald Trump to move away from his America First stance and pledge himself to a renewed partnership with Britain for the benefit of the world.
Charles was given multiple standing ovations during a stirring speech at a joint session of Congress, where he spoke of the shared principles underpinning the “special relationship”.
The monarch highlighted the profound bonds built between previous Kings, Queens and Presidents, and argued that in these shifting and frequently turbulent times, Britain and the United States must “stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm”.
Charles’ moving and contemplative address this afternoon came after a triumphant official ceremonial welcome at the White House, where President Trump lavished praise on the bond between our two countries built up over centuries.
The landmark State Visit had been thrown into uncertainty in recent months owing to Trump’s relentless stream of attacks on the UK, alongside allied reluctance to support his war in the Middle East.
However, in a striking shift, the President told those assembled on the White House lawn at the official ceremonial welcome: “Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”, reports the Mirror.
Championing the “special relationship” between America and the UK, Trump turned towards the King who listened closely throughout his 20 minute address and said: “We hope it will always remain that way”. The King’s most diplomatically delicate overseas trip to date unfolds against a background of criticism directed by Mr Trump personally at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the conflict in Iran. Officials at Downing Street have been banking on the royal family’s soft-power diplomacy to mend the divide, and make progress towards building a fresh, united path forward.
During his address, which prompted members from both chambers to rise to their feet and applaud 22 times, Charles remarked he felt “the weight of history on my shoulder”.
Referring to the shocking attempted assassination of the President last Saturday, when a heavily armed gunman tried to break into the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington—an incident that cast further doubt over the visit—the King said: “We meet in times of great uncertainty; in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries.
“We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to foment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed.
“Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.”
Charles also took a moment to reflect on his late mother’s visit in 1991, when she became the first British monarch to address Congress, yet made clear that Britain and the US must now look ahead to a fresh chapter.
He said: “Our shared values prevailed. Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain. It is an era that is, in many ways, more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late Mother spoke, in this Chamber, in 1991.
“The challenges we face are too great for any one Nation to bear alone. But in this unpredictable environment, our Alliance cannot rest on past achievements, or assume that foundational principles simply endure.
“As my Prime Minister said last month: ‘Ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last eighty years. Instead, we must build on it’. Renewal today starts with security. Drawing on these values and traditions, time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together.”
The response to Charles’s address, drafted with input from the Government, will not have gone unnoticed by Downing Street, who, despite the seemingly strained ties with Washington, were eager to deploy the royals in a bid to shore up the special relationship. For weeks, the State Visit had been mired in controversy surrounding the war in Iran, Trump’s tariff threats, and even his intervention in Britain’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
The royals had also faced criticism for refusing to meet victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the former close associate of the King’s brother, Andrew. Royal sources indicated the King wished to recognise the victims’ suffering alongside others facing hardship across the globe, emphasising the importance of international cooperation.
He said: “In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today.”
This sentiment of shared heritage and warmth had been repeated just hours earlier on the White House lawn, with Trump speaking about his family’s fondness for the royals and even disclosing his mum had a crush on Charles as a young man.
Senior figures from Mr Trump’s administration were amongst the attendees, including Vice-President JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions.
Numerous military units participated in the ceremonial welcome, from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to the United States Space Force Honour Guard, who performed despite the rain, which ceased before the royals’ arrival. Trump declared: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.” He described it as a “tremendous privilege to host” Charles and Camilla, branded the King a “very elegant man”, paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a “very special woman” and disclosed his mother, Mary, had a “crush” on the King during his younger years.
“She really did love the family but I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Charles, look young Charles, he’s so cute’. My mother had a crush on Charles – can you believe it? Amazing how… I wonder what she’s thinking right now?”
The royal visit had been in the pipeline for months – possibly years – to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Yet it’s arrived at a significant moment in our collective history.
While Charles spoke of “one of the greatest alliances in human history”, Trump suggested the event should serve as an opportunity to look ahead.
He said: “So today we look back on 250 years. Let us remember what has made our countries the two most exceptional nations the world has ever known.
“And together let us go forward with even stronger resolve to carry on our sacred devotion to liberty and to the traditions of excellence that have been our shared gift of all mankind. Your Majesties, thank you once again for making this important visit. We are so honoured.” On Wednesday, Charles and Camilla head to New York where they will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial in the lead-up to the 25th anniversary of the atrocity.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login