King Charles III and President Donald Trump review the Guard of Honour after arrival at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025. —Kirsty Wigglesworth—Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to the United States for a state visit in late April, marking their first trip to the White House under President Donald Trump.
The visit honors the 250th anniversary of American independence and will aim to “celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States,” said Buckingham Palace.
It will be the first state visit by a British monarch since 2007, when Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II was greeted by former President George W. Bush.
Trump has heralded the trip as a “momentous occasion” and is planning to host a “beautiful” banquet dinner for the royal couple at the White House.
“I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,” he added. “It will be terrific.”
While Buckingham Palace declined to confirm the dates of the trip, Trump said it is set to take place from April 27-30.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries have invited King Charles to deliver an address to a Joint Meeting of Congress on April 28, as a way to “reaffirm” the special relationship between the U.K. and U.S..
The Congressional leaders acknowledged that the “American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang.”
While officials on both sides of the Atlantic have expressed excitement over the state visit, the timing has caused concern. There were calls for the trip to be postponed due to it taking place against the backdrop of the Iran war, which has led to significant tension between U.K. and U.S. leadership.
Trump delivers a speech as King Charles watches on during a state banquet at Windsor Castle on Sept. 17, 2025. —Yui Mok—Getty Images
How the Iran War is splintering U.K.-U.S relations
Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have repeatedly clashed over the Iran war since the U.S. and Israel first launched strikes on Feb. 28.
Starmer’s decision to not become actively involved in the conflict, plus his initial refusal to allow the U.S. military access to U.K. bases, has earned him Trump’s wrath.
“He ruins relationships. We are very surprised. This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” Trump said of Starmer, arguing that the back-and-forth over access to bases cost the U.S. military critical time.
Earlier this week, Trump renewed his criticism of the U.K., specifically calling out the nation as he aired his frustrations with NATO allies who refused to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which around a fifth of global oil production flows.
Trump said nations such as the U.K. that are struggling to get jet fuel due to Iran’s chokehold of the Strait should go to the vital waterway and “take” the oil.
He also threatened to leave NATO—a move experts tell TIME would be incredibly complex and could result in serious legal backlash.
Read More: Trump Threatens to Pull U.S. Out of NATO Amid Fallout Over Iran War. Can He Legally Do That?
Starmer has repeatedly defended his position to maintain distance from the conflict in Iran.
“Whatever the pressure on me and others, whatever the noise, I’m going to act in the British national interest in all the decisions that I make, and that’s why I’ve been absolutely clear that this is not our war, or we’re not going to get dragged into it,” he said during a press briefing Wednesday.
In early March, when asked if his actions might have hindered U.K.-U.S. relations, Starmer told the House of Commons: “American planes operating out of British bases, that is the special relationship in action… hanging on to President Trump’s latest words is not.”
Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announce an agreement between the two countries in Aylesbury, England, on Sept. 18, 2025. —Leon Neal—Getty Images
The relationship between the royal family and Trump
The President, an Anglophile with partial British heritage whose mother Mary Anne MacLeod Trump was born in Scotland, has often spoken of his strong admiration for the royals, especially the late Queen Elizabeth II.
During his first state visit to the U.K. in June 2019, Trump described the Queen as a “constant symbol” of freedom and sovereignty.
“She has embodied the spirit of dignity, duty, and patriotism that beats proudly in every British heart,” he said during the state banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Trump now has built a similarly strong relationship with Charles, who ascended the British throne in 2022 following the death of his long-reigning mother.
“He’s a beautiful man, a wonderful man… I’ve gotten to know him very well actually [in my] first term, and now second term,” Trump said of His Majesty in early 2025.
Before arriving in the U.K. for an unprecedented second visit last year, Trump referred to Charles as his “friend.”
The King has been more measured in his public comments.
He praised Trump’s commitment to “finding solutions to some of the world’s most intractable conflicts” during a banquet to mark the President’s visit last year and said “the bond between our two nations is indeed a remarkable one.”
Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Donald Trump attend the D-Day75 National Commemorative Event at Southsea Common in Portsmouth, England, on June 5, 2019. —Karwai Tang—WireImage
Trump’s last state visit to the U.K.
President Trump and First Lady Melania were hosted by Charles and Camilla at Windsor Castle in September last year, as Buckingham Palace was undergoing renovations.
Upon his arrival at the Quadrangle at Windsor, Trump was invited to inspect the Guard of Honor. He later toured a special exhibition in the Green Drawing Room of the castle, featuring items with strong historical ties to the United States.
Trump and Melania were then given a tour of St. George’s Chapel, the resting place of several former monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II.
The Trumps also joined the royal family at a traditional “Beating Retreat” ceremony before enjoying a state banquet.
Despite the ceremonial welcome, protests took place during the visit.
Images of Trump alongside the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were projected onto Windsor Castle, amid calls for the since-released Epstein files to be published in full.
Demonstrations were also held in London, echoing protests seen during Trump’s first state visit.
Still, the U.K. and U.S. put on a united front, and the visit ended with Trump and Starmer signing a billion-dollar Tech Prosperity Deal.
The Epstein files discourse
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California has requested a private meeting between the King and survivors of Epstein.
“As you are aware, this is not solely an American matter,” Khanna said in a letter addressed to His Majesty, adding that members of Congress have “sought testimony” from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s brother, over his “ties” to Epstein.
The U.S. Justice Department released 3.5 million more pages of Epstein files in late January, prompting renewed scrutiny of Andrew, formerly known as Prince Andrew, who has long faced questioning over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on Feb. 19 and released after hours of questioning.
Thames Valley Police had previously confirmed to TIME on Feb. 9 that they were “assessing the information” regarding allegations that Andrew—while serving as the U.K. trade envoy—shared confidential government reports with Epstein, detailing trips to Singapore, China, Hong Kong, and Vietnam in 2010 and 2011.
Charles expressed the “deepest concern” over his brother’s arrest.
In a statement shared with TIME, Buckingham Palace said the authorities had the King’s “wholehearted support and co-operation.”
Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the U.K. ambassador to Washington, D.C. in September following disclosures about a closer than previously known relationship with Epstein, was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in February.
Starmer was asked by a reporter if he thinks there is a “moral case” for Charles to attend such a meeting during his U.S. visit.
“The U.S. and U.K. are close allies, and have been for a very long time, but this is a visit that, as I say, has been long planned and is part of the 250th celebrations, so that’s where the focus of the visit will be,” Starmer replied.
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