It is difficult to reconcile the unpredictability of President Donald Trump with the composure and diplomacy that Charles III must demonstrate in all circumstances. From April 27 to 30, the sovereign will be crossing the Atlantic to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Independence of the United States. It took six months – with a war in the Middle East in between – for the advisers of Buckingham Palace and those of Washington to reach an agreement on the program.
The objective is not to let the American president go into his ramblings in public, catching Charles III off guard. Upon his arrival, the king and the head of state will meet in the Oval Office for an informal private meeting. No spectators will be allowed in this legendary room, where President Zelensky endured the wrath of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance last year in front of cameras from around the world. The sovereign will also be invited to sit under a bust of Winston Churchill, a new decorative piece added by the American president.
A tense international context will lead to strict security measures to prevent any outbursts from the guests. The highlight of this visit, politically speaking, will be the speech given before Congress, during which “His Majesty will acknowledge the challenges our countries are facing.” Queen Elizabeth had done the same in September 1991 during a previous trip.
The next day, the agenda includes commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York, a few months ahead of time. Some engagements, related to the environment and ending with public appearances in Virginia, are expected. This delicate visit for the sovereign comes in a tense context between the UK and the US after Donald Trump’s harsh criticism of Keir Starmer, the British Prime Minister, at the beginning of the war in Iran.
“This visit is an opportunity to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we face these challenges together in the national interest of the UK,” commented a Palace spokesperson. President Trump is delighted to host Charles III. On April 15, speaking to Sky News, he describes the sovereign as a “great gentleman.” He emphasizes that his strained relationship with Sir Keir “will not overshadow” the royal visit. However, he expresses disappointment that Britain and other NATO allies did not join the war against Iran “when we needed them.”
(Source: Point de Vue)
/2026/04/15/69dffdeab35c4313927113.jpg "War in the Middle East: The White House announces discussing a new meeting with Iran")
