US Politics
King Charles and Queen to visit US in April in first state visit for a UK monarch for 20 years
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The King and Queen will carry out a state visit to the US late next month, followed by a visit by the King to Bermuda, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The royal couple will attend a state dinner at the White House, and the King will address Congress, during the visit, which will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence, and “celebrate the historic connections” between the UK and US.
The announcement came just minutes after US president Donald Trump launched into a bitter tirade against the UK over the Strait of Hormuz, warning “the US won’t be there to help you any more, just like you weren’t there for us”.
Mr Trump said Britain should “build up some delayed courage” and go and take oil itself now that the US had “done the hard part”.
It will be the King’s first visit to the US as monarch, and the first state visit by a British monarch to America for nearly 20 years, since that of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Her final state visit to the US – her fourth – was in 2007, when President George W Bush winked at her on the White House lawn after making one of his famous gaffes.
Washington DC was also the scene of “Podiumgate” in 1991 when all that could be seen of the then Queen above a lectern and microphones was her hat.
The King’s trip to Bermuda – his first royal visit as monarch to a British Overseas Territory – will be a solo one without the Queen.
The exact dates and details of the royal programmes in both countries will be confirmed nearer the time.
The UK rolled out the red carpet for Mr Trump’s second state visit to the UK in September, which was a glittering occasion featuring dazzling tiaras, brass bands and a sumptuous banquet served on 200-year-old silver.
But minutes before Buckingham Palace announced the royal visit, the US leader posted on social media: “All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the US, we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.”
Buckingham Palace said: “On advice of His Majesty’s Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.
“Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
“The King will then continue to Bermuda to undertake His Majesty’s first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.”
Questions had been raised since over whether the King’s long-planned official visit to the US would be cancelled or delayed because of the Iran war and President Trump’s repeated verbal attacks on Nato and on European countries that did not join the US in his war on Iran.
His rants have strained the US-UK relationship. Mr Trump also branded the UK’s approach to the conflict “terrible” and repeatedly lashed out at Sir Keir Starmer, including describing him as “not Winston Churchill”.
But the US president is always flattered by being invited to royal events, with their pomp and glitter.
Nick Dearden, director of Global Justice Now, a group campaigning for greater equality worldwide, said: “Donald Trump represents the biggest threat to our security, prosperity and peace of anybody in the world.
“Sending the King for another unprecedented state visit effectively whitewashes Trump’s actions. It sends exactly the wrong message, at a time we need to be standing up to his reckless, deadly bullying around the world.”
