King Charles III made history on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, becoming the first British monarch to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress. King Charles III delivered a speech to both chambers of Congress, in which he reaffirmed the “special” relationship between the US and the UK amid the backdrop of differences over the war with Iran.The landmark King Charles speech to Congress came during a four-day state visit to America marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
Background: Why King Charles Visited the US
This is Charles’ 20th visit to the United States and his first state visit as King. The trip is part of the 250th anniversary of US independence.The King Charles US visit was arranged to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial a milestone that carries deep symbolic weight given the shared history between Britain and its former colonies.
The four-day trip was stacked with various events and private meetings, coming during escalating pressure on security in Washington following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that targeted President Donald Trump and administration officials. Despite the tense backdrop, the royal visit proceeded as planned, drawing global attention.
King Charles Address to Congress: Time and Key Moments
The King Charles address to Congress time was set for the afternoon on Tuesday. King Charles kicked off his speech at 3:09 p.m., thanking the American people for welcoming the royal couple to the United States to mark the semiquincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence. He then received a standing ovation.
The king and queen arrived shortly after 3 p.m., escorted by a bipartisan group of lawmakers from the House and Senate, and were given a standing ovation by lawmakers and other guests in the chamber.
Charles began his remarks referencing Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, saying such violent acts “will never succeed.” He also remembered his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, praised NATO, emphasized the deep relationship between the UK and the US, and reminded lawmakers that the United States’ influence carries “weight and meaning.”
In his speech to Congress, the monarch avoided naming the president but highlighted democratic norms, Ukraine, and Western unity. King Charles urged Americans and Britons to draw on their shared heritage to defend democratic values, including checks on executive power, as he exhorted US lawmakers to address global problems collectively in an era of unusually sharp divisions.
The British government advised King Charles on the language he used in his joint address to Congress. The king’s speech was expected to run about 20 minutes and was written with the advice of the British government, which wanted him to help advance their strategic priorities with the US.
Trump King Charles Handshake: Oval Office Meeting
Before the King Charles speech to Congress, the two leaders met privately at the White House. The king and president entered the Oval Office at 11:57 a.m. The first lady and the queen entered after them. The president and king participated in a bilateral meeting, while the queen and first lady headed to a different area to meet with students.
The Trump King Charles handshake moment on the South Lawn and along the Colonnade became one of the most photographed images of the visit. After a stroll down a red carpet, the king and president entered the Oval Office. In keeping with tradition, the king and the president and queen and first lady exchanged gifts. The president gave the king a custom facsimile of a letter written from John Adams to John Jay in 1785.
The king presented Trump with a framed facsimile of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk, the historic Oval Office desk originally crafted from the timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute.
Quotes: What Leaders Said
Trump was effusive in his praise after the King Charles address to Congress.
The US president praised Charles for his address to Congress, saying the king made a “great speech.” “I’m very jealous,” Trump said, gesturing at Charles.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was “deeply honoured to have been invited to be the first British king to give such an address and was greatly touched by the warmth and generosity of the response he received.”
During his dinner remarks, Charles paid “tribute to your own courage and steadfastness, as well as to your security services,” addressing Trump directly regarding the Correspondents’ Dinner shooting.
King Charles State Dinner Guest List: Who Was There?
The evening ended with a spectacular White House dinner. Tonight’s festivities were held in the East Room and had a white-tie dress code a rarity for the White House. There hasn’t been such an event in nearly 20 years, when Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was invited to the US by George W. Bush in 2007.
The King Charles state dinner guest list was a who’s who of American power and media. The White House state dinner with the British royals included Cabinet members, politicians, business leaders and executives. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine were in attendance. CEO of NVIDIA Jensen Huang and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos were also there. Conservative Supreme Court justices were on the guest list, including Chief Justice John Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas.
Before the state dinner, King Charles spoke to tech leaders during a reception at Blair House. Attendees included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, AMD CEO Lisa Su, outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook, Google President Ruth Porat and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff. The king spoke about artificial intelligence guardrails and the importance of helping startups get funding.
State Dinner King Charles Menu: A Royal Feast
First Lady Melania Trump led preparations for the dinner, and the state dinner King Charles menu was nothing short of elegant. The first course offered a delicate garden herb velouté, complemented by a refreshing hearts of palm salad, finished with crisp toasted shallots and micro mint.
Next, guests dined on handcrafted spring herbed ravioli, featuring herbs grown in the White House Kitchen Garden. The third course included a dover sole meunière, bathed in a nutty brown butter, with spring ramps, snow peas, and a potato pavé.
Dessert was a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau with a vanilla bean crémeux custard, complimented with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey.
The décor for the evening reflected a shared appreciation for gardens. Cherry blossoms greeted guests at the Grand Foyer, and tables dressed in green pleated linens were adorned with seasonal blooms of lilac, butterfly ranunculus, phlox, and lily of the valley.
King Charles US Visit Virginia: Front Royal on the Itinerary
The King Charles US visit Virginia leg is the final chapter of the royal tour. King Charles III and Queen Camilla will visit Front Royal, Va. on Thursday to take part in its 250th Celebration Parade, with the parade set to kick off at 10 a.m. Warren County Public Schools will be closed Thursday for the occasion.
A short, tightly controlled parade through downtown Front Royal is planned for April 30. Local organizers emphasize that the event will be limited in scope and duration described as “a moment” along Main Street, with space expected to be tight and viewing opportunities not guaranteed.
While in the area, King Charles will visit Shenandoah National Park to meet with an indigenous community as well as people involved in conservation initiatives. During their trip to Virginia, the Queen will visit a farm to highlight the work of America’s horse racing industry and the long-term links with the sport in the UK.
Front Royal, Virginia, is known as the “Canoe Capital of Virginia” and serves as the northern entrance to Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive.The small town of under 16,000 residents is set to receive a moment on the world stage that locals will likely remember for generations.
Impact: What This Visit Means for the US-UK Relationship
The King Charles speech to Congress carries enormous diplomatic weight. It came at a time of genuine geopolitical tension, with differences between Washington and London over the ongoing war with Iran, trade tariffs, and NATO commitments. Yet the King Charles address to Congress was deliberately measured and unifying in tone.
In his historic speech to a joint meeting of the US Congress, Charles underscored the enduring bond and shared history between the US and the UK his words even unifying a sharply divided branch of government.
The King Charles US visit also signals that Britain is actively investing in the transatlantic relationship at a senior level, sending its head of state to make the case directly to American lawmakers for continued cooperation on defence, trade, and global stability.
Conclusion: What Comes Next
King Charles and Queen Camilla will wrap up their King Charles US visit with Thursday’s events in Virginia before returning to the United Kingdom. The King Charles US visit Front Royal VA parade will be the closing act of a visit that has already made the history books.
Whether this royal diplomacy translates into concrete policy outcomes on trade, Iran, or NATO remains to be seen. But the symbolism is undeniable. A British king addressing a joint session of Congress for the first time ever is a moment that underscores just how much both nations still value the ties that bind them.
FAQs
How to address King Charles III?
The correct formal address when speaking to King Charles III is “Your Majesty” for the first instance and “Sir” thereafter. In written correspondence, he is referred to as “His Majesty King Charles III.” Members of the public at public events typically simply bow or curtsy as a gesture of respect.
Did the Queen address Congress?
Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to deliver a speech at the US Congress making King Charles III’s address today a continuation of that rare royal tradition, though he is the first British king specifically to do so.
Is the King going to the USA?
Yes King Charles III is already in the USA. The royal couple is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. and New York from Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 29, and then Virginia on Thursday, April 30, the last day of their four-day tour.The visit marks the 250th anniversary of American independence and is Charles’s first state visit to the US as monarch.
