LONDON: King Charles III is set to deliver a historic address to the United States Congress during his first state visit to the United States as monarch, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The visit, scheduled to begin on April 27, is being framed as a celebration of the enduring relationship and “shared history” between the United Kingdom and the United States.
Accompanied by Queen Camilla, the King will address members of both chambers of Congress, marking a rare and symbolic moment in transatlantic diplomacy. He will become the first British monarch to speak before Congress since Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1991, shortly after the Gulf War.
🇺🇸🇧🇲 The King and Queen will visit the United States of America from 27th – 30th April and His Majesty will visit Bermuda from 1st – 2nd May 2026. pic.twitter.com/TVGhrKORyq
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 14, 2026
According to Buckingham Palace, the four-day visit aims to highlight not only historic ties but also the depth of modern cooperation and strong people-to-people connections between the two nations. The programme includes high-level engagements in Washington, followed by visits to New York and the state of Virginia.
During his time in Washington, King Charles will meet Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea, as well as attend a formal state dinner and a military review, according to AFP US President Donald Trump has posted on his Truth Social platform that the visit “will be TERRIFIC”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 31, 2026
The visit comes despite reported diplomatic friction between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the ongoing Iran conflict. However, Starmer has emphasised the importance of maintaining longstanding ties, noting that the monarchy plays a unique role in sustaining relations across generations.
In New York, the royal couple will meet emergency responders and families affected by the September 11 attacks, nearly a quarter-century on. The King will also engage with business leaders and attend a cultural reception linked to The King’s Trust, one of his flagship charitable initiatives.
The visit will then move to Virginia, a state closely associated with early British colonial history. There, the King and Queen will participate in a community “block party” marking the anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. The tour will conclude with a visit to Bermuda on May 1, marking King Charles’s first trip to the British Overseas Territory as monarch.
The visit also unfolds against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny surrounding the King’s brother, Prince Andrew, over his past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Calls for the King to meet survivors during the trip have reportedly been declined, with palace sources citing concerns over ongoing legal sensitivities.
Despite these challenges, the upcoming visit is being positioned as a significant diplomatic moment aimed at reinforcing the resilience and continuity of UK–US relations.
