King Charles Visits US as Britain Seeks to Steady Ties With Trump

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday for a four-day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, as Britain seeks to ease tensions with Washington over the war in Iran.

The royal couple met President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House for tea before attending a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.

The visit comes amid strained US-UK relations after Trump repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to provide military support for Washington’s war with Iran.

The US president has branded Starmer “no Churchill” – referring to wartime premier Winston Churchill, who coined the “special relationship” phrase.

Starmer has publicly criticized the war, but defended the state visit. An early April YouGov poll found 48 percent of Britons support cancelling it, AFP reported.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told CNN the visit is “really important” for relations between the two countries and symbolic of the strength of their ties.

“It is, I think, really symbolic of the strength of our relationships through very, very many generations, that we want, in the UK, to celebrate a 250th anniversary of what was effectively our defeat,” Cooper said.

She acknowledged that London and Washington have taken different positions on Iran, but said both governments must make decisions based on their national interests.

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Deputy British Ambassador James Roscoe said Charles’ role as a constitutional monarch allows him to rise above political disputes.

“I think the King can help enormously. He is a constitutional ceremonial figure in the UK but he is above politics,” Roscoe told CNN. “In many ways, he transcends politics.”

The trip is taking place under tightened security following a shooting at a press gala in Washington on Saturday.

The King is also expected to visit Arlington and the 9/11 memorial during the trip, with British officials emphasizing defense ties, shared history and economic links as central themes of the visit.

Charles will address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday, becoming the first British monarch to do so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.