KING Charles continued his American bromance with Trump at a lavish White House dinner telling the President “If you ever need to get hold of us, give us a ring”.
In a light-hearted and fun toast at the State Dinner the King also raised a laugh with guests telling them dinner was “a considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party”.
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The King cracked a joke about the ‘Boston tea party’ earning a round of applause and a burst of laughter Credit: AP
Charles earned several big laughs during his toast to the ‘past, present and future’ Credit: AP
Trump, Melania and Charles raised a glass after the President finished speaking Credit: Reuters
Both Trump and Charles delivered toasts ahead of the dinner service Credit: AFP
Revolutionaries famously boarded British ships in Boston harbour and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water in a protest against colonial tax in 1773 during the War of Independence.
In 1976 to mark the 200th anniversary Queen Elizabeth II presented the United States with the “Bicentennial Bell,” a 6-ton replica of the Liberty Bell.
And in a similar gesture, The King gave Trump the original bell from a 1940s Royal Navy submarine called HMS Trump, a personal gift to symbolise friendship.
The sub fought in the Battle of the Pacific in World War II.
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Trump rolled out the red carpet and welcomed Charles to the White House Credit: Reuters
Entrepreneurs, executives, politicians and CEOs will attend the State Dinner alongside Trump and Charles Credit: Reuters
Charles told the President the gift was a sign of “our shared history and shining future”.
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And topping off a high-stakes day of diplomacy in Washington DC, he said: “If you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring.”
The King moved on to talk about football ahead of the United States hosting this summer’s World Cup along with Mexico and Canada, where Charles is Head of State.
Charles said: “And in sport, in just a few weeks, the United States and Canada will be among those to welcome the world as hosts of the FIFA World Cup. So in one sense, Mr President, as Heads of State, we are joint hosts!”
He reminded Trump he was King of Canada – a nation the President has threatened he would make the 51st State.
He added: “We call this game ‘Football’, Mr. President. And I can only say as the Head of State of five competing countries, I will be watching the matches closely and with great enthusiasm. After all, we always like favourable odds.”
Charles also again referenced the attempted assassination on Donald Trump at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
He saluted both the actions of security services in preventing further injury and the President’s determination to carry on.
Charles dressed in his full formal regalia as he arrived at the South Portico of the White House Credit: AP
The First Lady and the queen shared a kiss and an embrace as the royals arrived for dinner Credit: Reuters
In his ten minute speech, which was Charles’s second of the day, he told guests at the black tie do the American spirit is defined by “courage, tenacity and the spirit of adventure”.
He added: “Tonight, we are here to renew an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens.
“Across the ocean and from coast to coast, we have traded, innovated and created together.
“We have stood together in the best of times and worst of times.
But said “those challenges encourage us to reaffirm, tonight, the basis on which our partnership has been built”.
In his State Dinner speech Charles continued: “It is a particular pleasure to be back in this wonderful building, the heart of your democracy.
“On this occasion, I cannot help noticing the ‘readjustments’ to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year. I am sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in” 1814.”
And, despite a diplomatic high-stakes trip the King made a daring joke.
He said: “Indeed, you recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German.
Charles and Camilla were seated at a table at the head of the room Credit: AFP
President Trump delivered a toast before Charles stepped up to the lectern Credit: AP
“Dare I say that, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French.”
Large areas of the the States were French before The Treaty of Paris of 1763 ended Seven Years’ War between Great Britain and France.
And France gave up all its territories in mainland North America before the US gained independence.
Charles also touched on the recent spat between Starmer and Trump over the conflict in the Middle East.
He said: “We have had our moments of difficulty even in more recent history.
“When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘special’ back into our Relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.
“Nearly seventy years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today.”
Before the dinner Charles, Camilla, Trump and Melania posed for an official photo at the White House grand staircase.
The Queen dazzled in a deep pink Fiona Clare evening gown and amethyst and diamond necklace given by a former Duchess of Kent to Queen Victoria and then passed to Queen Mary.
Trump welcomed King Charles to the lavish State Dinner at the White House as the pair capped off a day of bromance diplomacy.
The two couple’s posed for a picture inside the White House ahead of the dinner Credit: AP
Trump and Melania led Camilla and Charles through the White House past a painting of Trump when he was shot on July 13 204 Credit: AFP
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez were seen arriving for the lavish dinner earlier Credit: Reuters
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook showed up for the dinner at the White House dressed in a stylish tux Credit: Reuters
The two leaders shook hands and smiled for the cameras as Trump rolled out the red carpet and welcomed Charles to the White House alongside a military honour guard.
The King, 77, and the President, 79, were joined by an impressive guest list of VIPs at a glitzy dinner to mark the close of the second day of the state visit.
Entrepreneurs, executives, politicians, sportsmen and CEOs attended the State Dinner in the East Room alongside Trump and Charles after a day of good humoured bridge-building.
Before making their way into the White House for dinner Trump praised Charles for his earlier speech to Congress, joking that he was jealous of the King’s performance.
Pointing at the King, Trump said: “He made a great speech, I was very jealous.”
The royals and the President were joined at the dinner by outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook who was seen arriving at the White House alone earlier in a stylish tux.
Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez also attended and were spotted walking into the US President’s home earlier today.
Also on the guest list at the classy event were Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Mrs. Kelly Johnson, golfer Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica McIlroy, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Charles met with a small gathering of tech company executives ahead of the dinner, accompanied by Varun Chandra, the prime minister’s special envoy to the US on trade and investment.
Bezos, Cook, the CEO and CIO of Google‘s parent company Alphabet and Salesforce chief executive Marc Benioff were in attendance at the event in Blair House.
Trump welcomed the King with a speech as day two of the state visit got underway Credit: EPA
The King and Trump shared a laugh in the Oval office after a private meeting Credit: Getty
Prince Charles’ mother, the late Queen, attended a State Dinner hosted by President George W. Bush at a previous state visit in 2007 Credit: Getty
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, First Lady Laura Bush, HM Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President George W. Bush were pictured together at a previous State Dinner Credit: Getty
The glamorous dinner, hosted by the President and the First Lady, began at 7pm local time – around midnight in the UK.
Guests were treated to a rich menu, a toast by the King and Trump, and musical entertainment.
Across four courses, dinner guests enjoyed culinary delights including hearts of palm, toasted shallots, spring herbed ravioli, morels, ricotta cheese, Dover sole meunière and flourless chocolate gâteau.
A selection of wines, chosen to compliment the glitzy menu and honour the friendship between the US and the UK, were also served as well as White House Honey – which Melania gifted to Camilla earlier in the day.
The dinner marked the end of a day that began with a 21-gun salute and both national anthems to greet King Charles and Queen Camilla as they arrived in the US capital.
The President and the King then had a private one-to-one in The Oval Office while Melania and Camilla met school children, after the ceremonial welcome and speech.
Trump said “it was a great honour, he’s a fantastic person” after meeting the King for a cordial chat in the iconic White House room.
The President, who was pictured sharing a laugh with Charles, said: “It was a good meeting.”
Trump and Melania were then pictured waving goodbye to Charles and Camilla as they departed from the White House.
Charles went on to Capitol Hill to address 535 lawmakers from the Senate and House of Representatives.
He earned some 12 standing ovations throughout his half hour address, originally slated for 20 minutes.
His address ran overtime due to spontaneous applause but also peels of laughter and occasional whoops of agreement.
Charles became the second reigning royal to to make a speech on Capitol Hill after his late mum, The Queen, made a similar address in 1991.
He beamed as was given a three-minute standing ovation when he arrived into the chamber led by the Sergeant at Arms and stood at the podium to speak, while Camilla stood beside him.
He then used his speech to hammer home the importance of the so-called “special relationship” – saying it is “truly unique”.
The King and Queen Camilla’s State Dinner menu
First CourseGarden Vegetable VeloutéHearts of PalmToasted ShallotsMicro Mint
Second CourseSpring Herbed RavioliRicotta CheeseMorelsParmesan Emulsion
Third CourseDover Sole MeunièrePotato PavéSpring RampsSnow PeasParsley Oil
DessertWhite House Honey & Vanilla Bean CrémeuxFlourless Chocolate GâteauAlmond JocondeCrème Fraîche Ice Cream
Guests will also enjoy live music from:
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
The US Army Chorus
The US Army Strings
The US Army Herald Trumpets
The US Air Force Singing Sergeants
The US Air Force Strings
