King Charles III and Queen Camilla will undertake a state visit to the United States from April 27-30, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday. The trip, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, follows an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit will include a state banquet at the White House and an address by the King to Congress. After the U.S. visit, King Charles will travel to Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, for an official visit.
The announcement comes amid strained U.S.-UK relations, particularly over President Trump's criticism of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's stance on the U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran. Trump has publicly accused the UK of not providing sufficient support, including refusing to allow U.S. aircraft to operate from British bases for strikes on Iran. Despite these tensions, the British government has advised the King to proceed with the visit, emphasizing the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties.
Domestic Opposition and Diplomatic Considerations
Some British politicians have called for the visit to be postponed or canceled, citing concerns over the optics of the trip during an active conflict. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey criticized the decision, calling it a "humiliation" and questioning the government's resolve in standing up to Trump's rhetoric. Similarly, Labour MP Emily Thornberry suggested delaying the visit to avoid diplomatic awkwardness. However, officials argue that the monarchy's "soft power" role can help stabilize relations with Trump, who has expressed admiration for the royal family.
Historical Context and Previous Visits
This will be King Charles's first state visit to the U.S. as monarch, though he visited the country 19 times as Prince of Wales. The last state visit by a British monarch was in 2007, when Queen Elizabeth II visited during George W. Bush's presidency. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a state dinner hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle in September 2025.
Additional Controversies
The visit also coincides with ongoing controversies involving the British monarchy, including the recent arrest of Prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct in public office and the arrest of former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson over similar allegations. These issues have added another layer of complexity to the diplomatic visit.
Bermuda Visit
Following the U.S. state visit, King Charles will travel to Bermuda for his first royal visit as monarch to a British Overseas Territory. The details of this visit have not yet been fully announced.