King Charles III to Address U.S. Congress: Second British Monarch to Do So

 

King Charles III to Address U.S. Congress: Second British Monarch to Do So

King Charles III will deliver a speech before both chambers of the U.S. Congress during his visit to the United States at the end of April, Buckingham Palace announced. The address is scheduled for April 28, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.

The last time a British monarch spoke before Congress was in 1991, when Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’s mother, gave an address at the Capitol.

Marking 250 Years of U.S. Independence

Charles III’s state visit, from April 27 to 30, will commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. It comes amid tensions between Washington and London over the war in the Middle East. Some British politicians even called for the trip to be canceled.

Buckingham Palace stated: “This visit will be an opportunity to highlight the shared history of our two nations, the breadth of our relationship, and the deep ties that unite our peoples.”

Criticism from Trump

Despite the historically “special” relationship between the two countries, President Donald Trump has recently intensified criticism of the U.K., particularly of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, accusing him of failing to support the U.S.-Israel offensive against Iran.

Starmer defended the timing of the royal visit, saying in Parliament: “The relationship between our two countries is very important in many respects, and often, thanks to the ties it forges, the monarchy can overcome a situation like this.”

Trump, known for his admiration of the British royal family, has made two state visits to the U.K., the most recent in September. In March, he expressed delight at the “wonderful” prospect of hosting the King.

Epstein Case Shadows the Visit

The trip also coincides with fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein case. In February, Charles’s brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was detained on suspicion of passing confidential information to Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in 2019.

Virginia Giuffre’s family, the main accuser of Epstein, requested that Charles meet victims during his U.S. visit. However, Buckingham Palace’s program does not include such a meeting. A royal source told AP this would be “impossible,” arguing it could interfere with ongoing investigations or due process.

Visit Program

According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be welcomed in Washington by Donald and Melania Trump at a private tea reception, followed by a garden party. The state visit will also feature a military ceremony, a meeting with the U.S. President, and a gala dinner at the White House.

Charles and Camilla will then travel to New York to pay tribute to the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks, and later to Virginia. The trip will conclude with a visit to Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, until May 2.