King Charles III Starts First UK State Visit Since 2007

King Charles III and Queen Camilla begin a four-day state visit to the United States on Monday, April 27, 2026, the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's 2007 trip hosted by President George W. Bush. The visit runs through April 30 and spans Washington, New York and Virginia.

Trump and First Lady to Welcome Their Majesties

According to a White House announcement, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will greet Their Majesties at the South Portico on Monday afternoon, followed by tea in the Green Room. The State Arrival Ceremony with full military honors is scheduled for the South Lawn on Tuesday, April 28, with a State Banquet at the White House the same evening.

The King is expected to address a joint meeting of the US Congress, which would be the first such address by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's appearance in 1991, per Wikipedia and TIME.

Visit Confirmed After Saturday Shooting

The visit had been "under review" Sunday following the Saturday White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting. Buckingham Palace then confirmed the trip would proceed after King Charles privately contacted President Trump and First Lady Melania to express relief at their safety, according to Hello Magazine. The Palace said the planned schedule remained intact.

A 250-Year Backdrop

The state visit lands during the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250th-anniversary leadup to the 1776 Declaration of Independence. US and UK media described the trip as a "delicate mission to restore" transatlantic relations, with US News and the Washington Times citing strain over Ukraine policy, tariffs and the Iran war. The high-pageantry royal moment arrives in a tense political week, as the Iran war entered Day 58 and the WHCD shooting investigation continued.