King Charles Welcomed at White House, Set to Address Congress This Afternoon

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla were formally welcomed at the White House Tuesday morning, kicking off one of the most high-profile days of the king's reign.

Charles met with President Trump in the Oval Office while Queen Camilla joined First Lady Melania Trump for an education event. The king will then head to Capitol Hill to meet with congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, before delivering a speech to a joint session of Congress at 3:00 p.m.

It will be only the second time a British sovereign has addressed both chambers. Charles's mother, Queen Elizabeth II, spoke to Congress in 1991.

In his address, Charles is expected to press the importance of unity and the defense of democratic values, touching on shared commitments to peace, compassion, religious freedom, and environmental protection. A palace source said the king plans to acknowledge the two countries' periodic differences while reminding lawmakers that "time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together." Charles is expected to steer clear of the political friction between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The four-day state visit comes amid real tensions between the two nations. Trump has repeatedly criticized Britain for declining to support the U.S.-Israeli offensive in Iran, and an internal Pentagon email recently suggested Washington could revisit its support for Britain's claim to the Falkland Islands.