The challenge awaiting King Charles III on his upcoming visit to the United States next week is, as always, to live up to the example set by his mother.
The late Queen Elizabeth II charmed Congress in 1991 with a speech celebrating the common democratic traditions of the UK and the US, quoting Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, and emphasizing the deep bonds between the two nations.
These themes will also top the agenda for King Charles as he celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States and seeks to ease tensions related to Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to support President Donald Trump’s war on Iran, according to historian Douglas Brinkley, a specialist of presidents at Rice University in Texas.
“We must always distinguish between the UK government and the kings and queens of Great Britain, who always come to try to present a good image,” Mr. Brinkley told the Associated Press. “Politics come and go, prime ministers and presidents come and go, but there’s something deeper in the special relationship between the US and the UK.”
Charles and Queen Camilla will kick off their four-day journey on Monday, where they will have tea with President and First Lady Melania Trump, then visit the White House beehive in tribute to the king’s environmental advocacy. The official arrival ceremony will take place on Tuesday, featuring a 21-gun salute, fanfares playing national anthems, and a procession of American troops marching past the king. The ceremonies will be followed by a meeting between President Trump and King Charles.
ContextKing Charles III is set to visit the United States to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country and work on improving relations that have been strained due to political differences. The visit will include meetings with President Trump and various ceremonies.
Fact CheckQueen Elizabeth II made four state visits to the United States during her reign, aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations during times of conflicts and challenges.
Behind the pomp and circumstance, a carefully orchestrated diplomatic event lies, as with all royal visits, at the request of the British government. Mr. Starmer resisted pressures to cancel it after Mr. Trump downplayed British military sacrifices in Afghanistan and criticized him personally for not supporting the US in Iran.
Despite these tensions, Mr. Trump continues to speak warmly of King Charles.
“History has shown that President Trump really strives to make a good impression whenever he has dealings with the British royals,” said Mr. Brinkley. “I am sure it will be the same this time.”
Since 1939, when King George VI became the first British monarch to set foot on the colony’s soil, a special excitement has prevailed whenever the royal family visits the United States.
This first visit took place while World War II loomed over Europe. The royal family traveled the East Coast, participating in a “picnic” at President Roosevelt’s private residence in Hyde Park, New York. “The king tastes a hot dog and asks for more,” The New York Times reported.
But the highlight was when the royal family visited Mount Vernon to lay a wreath at George Washington’s tomb, showing respect during a time marked by isolationism.
“People saw the inevitable coming and knew it would be crucial for the US and Britain to stay strong to fight Hitler,” said Barbara Perry, a presidential specialist at the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.
Fraternizing over hot dogs had broader implications, helping the royal family connect with the public and its leaders. After the outbreak of war in September 1939, Queen Elizabeth, wife of George VI and mother of the future Elizabeth II, wrote to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to express how moved she was by Americans’ letters enclosing small sums of money for British forces.
“Sometimes in these terrible recent months, we have felt rather alone in our fight against evil, but I can honestly say that our American friends understand why we are fighting,” she wrote.
ContextQueen Elizabeth II strengthened UK-US relations by making four state visits to the United States during her 70-year reign. She commemorated the bicentennial of the US in 1976 and met President George W. Bush in 2007 during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fact CheckThe royal family’s visit to the US includes commemorations for 9/11, a ceremony for fallen soldiers, and an event attended by Queen Camilla to mark the 100th anniversary of A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories. However, they will not meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims, and Prince Charles will not meet his son, Prince Harry, who has criticized the monarchy and moved to California.
Charles’ speech before a joint session of Congress offers the opportunity to convey the message that long-term friendship is more important than temporary disagreements.
Danica Kirka, The Associated Press
