KING Charles has begun his historic address to US Congress after a day of love-ins and bridge-building with Donald Trump.
The King has become just the second monarch to make such a speech on Capitol Hill – following in the footsteps of his late mum, The Queen.
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King Charles has begun his historic address to US Congress
Trump and Charles laughing together in the Oval Office during a private chat Credit: Reuters
President Trump hosted the royal couple with a White House ceremony full of pomp as day two of the historic State Visit got into full swing today.
Charles stepped out to rapturous applause as he spoke to Republican and Democrat lawmakers amid a time of often spikey relations between the US and UK.
The President and King had a private one to one in The Oval Office earlier today 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 private chat in the Oval Office.
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Keir might never fix broken Trump bond, but diplomatic King is making headway
SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
Moment Trump reveals his mother had crush on a ‘cute’ Prince Charles
Downing Street will be hoping that the monarchy’s soft power diplomacy can help put UK-US relations on a firmer footing Credit: PA
The four stood side by side before exchanging gifts in private Credit: Reuters
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.
Earlier today, the King stepped from his car to be met by Trump and the First Lady Melania Trump, who was wearing one of her trademark wide-brimmed hats.
The US President joked about the dismal weather being “a beautiful British day” to a laugh from the crowd and praised the “very elegant” Charles.
He went on to hail the “strongest & deepest of roots” the US shares with the UK in his speech, saying America has “no closer friends than the British”.
The King and Queen also swapped gifts with the President and First Lady.
It marks the most important foreign trip for the King so far – as it comes at a time where the Special Relationship hangs in jeopardy.
Trump has mocked Keir Starmer as “weak” and repeatedly blasted the UK – but the royal charm offensive is appearing to make some headway.
The leaders have clashed in showdowns over the Iran war, the Chaos Islands and even Britain’s sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Downing Street will be hoping that the monarchy’s soft power diplomacy can help put UK-US relations on a firmer footing.
And it seems to be working, as Trump hailed the “strong and deep” friendship with the UK in his speech on the lawn of the White House.
Trump said: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.
“We share that same root. We speak the same language. We hold the same values, and together, our warriors have defended the same extraordinary civilisation under twin banners of red, white and blue.”
He said of the King: “His Majesty’s intellect, passion and devotion have been long, really a long blessing, blessing to the British people, but not only to his own country, but to the cherished bond between the United States and the United Kingdom, and I am very certain that it will continue that way long into the future.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson opened the address to congress before King Charles stepped up to deliver his address Credit: Getty
King Charles arrived with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson Credit: Reuters
“In a few hours, His Majesty will stand in the heart of the United States Capitol as the very first British King ever to address a joint session of the United States Congress.
“So he’s going to be addressing Congress, and I’m going to be watching I was thinking of going, but they said ‘I don’t know that might be a step too far’.
“I would love to go. It’s not supposed to be protocol, but I would love to be with you.”
He also made a joke about his mother having a “crush” on Charles with his “beautiful accent” and “noble spirit of the British”.
The US leader also paid tribute to the late Queen as a “very very special woman” in his speech, piling praise on the royal family.
It is understood to be the biggest parade ever given to a sovereign leader.
It is understood to be the biggest parade ever given to a sovereign leader.
Charles will later make a landmark Congress speech on global “challenges” and UK/US unity.
He is also expected to address the attempted assassination of Trump that threw the State Visit into jeopardy.
Afterwards, President Trump will speak to Charles in private – with efforts made to keep off-the-cuff conversations between the two off the air.
They will both then make speeches at a glittering State Dinner.
It comes after Charles and Camilla attended a lavish garden party to mark the end of the first day of their historic US state visit.
They were joined by 650 guests, including politicians and sports stars, at the packed-out British embassy in Washington DC.
Charles and Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews military airport yesterday, marking the start of their high-stakes four-day visit.
After the eight-hour flight, the pair were whisked to the White House, where they were greeted by President Trump and First Lady Melania.
The President and King had a private one to one in The Oval Office earlier today Credit: Getty
Charles greets the British delegation during an official arrival ceremony at the White House Credit: Alamy
The US President joked about the dismal weather in his speech Credit: Reuters
The King has become just the second monarch to make such a speech on Capitol Hill – following in the footsteps of his late mum, The Queen. Credit: Rex Features
The quartet then went inside to enjoy a private tea, before Charles and Melania shared a laugh over a beehive in the gardens.
After running over by more than half an hour, Charles and Camilla later departed for a garden party at the British embassy in Washington.
Guests at the lavish bash included Brit diving champion Tom Daley, Lioness star Esme Morgan and The Jattvibe’s very own Harry Cole.
Charles and Camilla flew in a Union Flag-emblazoned government jet amid heightened security fears after an attempt on Donald Trump‘s life.
Buckingham Palace insisted “minor adjustments” were required in the wake of Saturday night’s assassination attempt.
The state visit’s programme will “celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship” between the two countries.
It will also mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence, which was declared on July 4, 1776.
Trump – a known fan of the Royals – has previously said how much he was looking forward to spending time with the King”.
Charles and Camilla’s afternoon tea with the Trumps lasted more than 45 minutes – almost double the planned time.
The King and Queen were later given a tour of the South Lawn where they were shown a new beehive in the shape of the White House.
The last time a British monarch paid a visit the US capital was almost 20 years ago, when Queen Elizabeth II made the trip in 2007.
Charles is Britain’s No.1 diplomat – while Keir might never fix broken bond with Trump, King is making headway
By Harry Cole
IT was power as soft and fluffy as the 3,000 sarnies British chefs stayed up all night preparing.
Diplomacy delicately prepared and wolfed down by a grateful crowd.
Senior members of Donald Trump’s cabinet, top Senators, Governors, Mayors, White House staff, network anchors and celebs queued around the block for just a glimpse of the King.
The great and good of the American elite spent more than an hour jostling in the baking sunshine all desperate for their own personal special relationship moment.
Some wanted selfies and handshakes, others were just content to see the King and Queen in the flesh.
For a country that turned its back on the Royal family 250 years ago, the Americans sure do lap up the regal star dust.
And the British side played to that as skilfully as the string quartet they had wheeled in to entertain the 650 VIPs gathered on Monday afternoon in the palatial Embassy in the DC suburbs.
On the menu was British roast beef, Scottish smoked salmon, Devonshire cream scones and Hampshire bubbles; meanwhile, the band played cheesy Coldplay covers.
It was not subtle…
Yet this was the sort of diplomacy only The Firm can pull off as the monarch seeks to smooth the ruffled feathers of the Special Relationship that, thanks to the acts of politicians, has hit a 70-year low.
Sir Keir Starmer could probably walk down most sidewalks of America and barely be noticed let alone recognised.
If he were recognised, he’d probably be booed, so for all concerned it was for the best that the PM decided to sit this one out back home.
But to say the King and Queen are box office here is an understatement.
Palace aides were desperate to stage manage who the pair met, controlling lineups and handing special cards to chosen guests.
The King had other ideas, however.
A well-deserved stiff drink in hand, he gripped and grinned every shaker and mover who wanted it, spending more than 90 minutes slowly working his way through the crowded garden.
His Majesty is Britain’s number one diplomat, and he is living up to the title on this trip despite his age and illness.
In our own brief chat, he scotched any suggestion from naysayers that he was not keen to be here or had been forced into the trip by a desperate Starmer government out of its depth and scrambling to keep our most important alliance alive.
With £400billion in annual trade and security and defence interlinked at every level, the significance of the transatlantic relationship cannot be downplayed.
But tensions over Iran, Greenland, the Falklands, open borders and Net Zero zealotry, as well as Labour tilting back toward Europe, have all put it under unprecedented strain.
While Starmer catches verbal strays on a near-daily basis from a seething President, there’s no doubt the leader of the free world is on good behaviour with the King.
The President considers last year’s state visit to the UK as the high point of his return to power, and he was clearly keen to return the favour.
Flashpoints like Trump’s comments about British efforts fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq back in February incensed King Charles enough for him to let his concerns be directly conveyed to the White House.
Yet yesterday it was clear the President was also trying to smooth things over, with touching words about our shared warriors who “have defended the same extraordinary civilisation under the shared banner of red, white and blue.”
While it’s not clear Starmer and Trump can ever fix their broken bond, so far it’s looking good that the King can keep the show on the road…
