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The president Donald Trump confirmed yesterday that King Charles III and Queen Camilla will make an official state visit to the United States at the end of the month.
"Melania and I are pleased to announce that Their Majesties, the Kings of the United Kingdom, will visit the United States on a historic State Visit from April 27 to April 30, which will include a magnificent gala dinner at the White House on the evening of April 28," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
It will be the first time that the British monarch visits the North American country as king, coinciding with the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
"This monumental occasion will be even more special this year," Trump stated, adding that he looks forward to "spending time with the King, whom I deeply respect. It will be fantastic!"
The announcement comes at a time of notable diplomatic tension between Washington and London, stemming from the war that the United States and Israel initiated against Iran on February 28 with the Epic Fury and Roaring Lion operations.
The United Kingdom authorized the use of its military bases for American defensive operations on March 2, but refused to participate in offensive actions, which sparked Trump’s anger towards Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Trump publicly criticized Starmer for his lack of support, particularly regarding the defense of the Strait of Hormuz, which is crucial for the global oil transit, and unfavorably compared him to the historical British leader: We are not dealing with Winston Churchill.
On March 8, Trump posted on Truth Social: "The United Kingdom, our once great ally, perhaps the greatest of all, is finally seriously considering sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East. Don't worry, Prime Minister Starmer, we no longer need them. But we will remember. We don't need people to join wars after we have already won them!"
Despite the climate of friction and the questioning by various voices in the United Kingdom about the appropriateness of the king's trip at this moment of bilateral tension, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the visit will proceed as planned.
The monarchy acts as a diplomatic bridge to preserve the so-called "special relationship" between both countries, historically strong but currently facing one of its most delicate moments since World War II.
King Carlos III has visited the United States on 19 previous occasions, but never as a monarch, making this trip a historic milestone. The last state visit by a British sovereign to the North American country was the fourth by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007, during the presidency of George W. Bush.
The itinerary for the visit includes a gala dinner at the White House on April 28 and a speech by the king before Congress. Following the events in Washington, the royals will travel to Bermuda, a British overseas territory.
The visit was proposed by the Starmer government and formally invited by Trump, who described the meeting as "historic."
The wartime context in the Middle East adds symbolic weight to the journey: Iran responded to the U.S. and Israeli attack with more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones against Israel and U.S. bases in the region, while Washington and Tel Aviv have struck more than 5,000 Iranian targets, including nuclear facilities.
The 250th anniversary of American independence provides a powerful symbolic framework for the meeting, and the visit of Carlos III is interpreted as an attempt to bridge the gap between London and Washington during one of the highest points of transatlantic tension in decades.
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