Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Washington on April 27 for a four-day state visit, the first by a British monarch in two decades and marking the 250th anniversary of US independence. The trip has gained added attention following a shooting at the White House Correspondents' dinner and disputes between the US and UK over the war on Iran.
King Charles and Queen Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews around 2:30 p.m. ET. They were greeted by US diplomatic, state and federal officials, along with senior British embassy staff. Children from British military families presented flowers, and a military band played the national anthems of both countries.
The king wore a navy suit, while the queen chose a pink dress. They proceeded to the White House for a private meeting with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
The itinerary includes an address to Congress by the king—the second such instance for a British monarch—a state dinner at the White House, and visits to New York City and Virginia. In New York, they will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, with the queen also marking the centenary of Winnie the Pooh stories. In Virginia, the king will meet conservation workers.
The visit occurs amid a shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents' dinner, where officials said President Trump and administration members were likely targets. Tensions have also risen over the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Trump criticising the UK government for lacking support. Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip proceeds as planned.
"The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow," a palace spokesperson said. Britain's ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, emphasised shared history and values, adding: "Keep calm, carry on."
