King Charles Visits US as Britain Seeks to Steady Ties With Trump

The monarch will address Congress on Tuesday, becoming the first British sovereign to do so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla upon arrival at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 27, 2026. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday for a four-day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, as Britain seeks to ease tensions with Washington over the war in Iran. The royal couple met President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House for tea before attending a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . The visit comes amid strained US-UK relations after Trump repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to provide military support for Washington’s war with Iran. The US president has branded Starmer “no Churchill” – referring to wartime premier Winston Churchill, who coined the “special relationship” phrase. Starmer has publicly criticized the war, but defended the state visit. An early April YouGov poll found 48 percent of Britons support cancelling it, AFP reported. British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told CNN the visit is “really important” for relations between the two countries and symbolic of the strength of their ties. “It is, I think, really symbolic of the strength of our relationships through very, very many generations, that we want, in the UK, to celebrate a 250th anniversary of what was effectively our defeat,” Cooper said. She acknowledged that London and Washington have taken different positions on Iran, but said both governments must make decisions based on their national interests. Other Topics of Interest War in the Middle East: Latest Developments Iran on Sunday executed a man convicted of membership in the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl and involvement in attacks on security forces in the southeast. Deputy British Ambassador James Roscoe said Charles’ role as a constitutional monarch allows him to rise above political disputes. “I think the King can help enormously. He is a constitutional ceremonial figure in the UK but he is above politics,” Roscoe told CNN. “In many ways, he transcends politics.” The trip is taking place under tightened security following a shooting at a press gala in Washington on Saturday. The King is also expected to visit Arlington and the 9/11 memorial during the trip, with British officials emphasizing defense ties, shared history and economic links as central themes of the visit. Charles will address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.