US Politics
Melania Trump giggles as she jokes about King Charles’ love of honey during White House visit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Melania Trump was spotted giggling with Britain’s King Charles III during the monarch’s visit to the White House.
The King, who will address Congress during his visit, joined President Trump and the first lady to look at the White House’s beehive on the South Lawn Monday.
During the discussion, the King shared an exchange with Melania, which saw her laughing and grinning broadly as she extended a hand and gently placed it on his arm.
As the King and Melania beamed, Queen Camilla and the president were photographed listening intently to Carlo Figarella, the White House assistant pastry chef.
“And everybody that goes home tomorrow, goes home tomorrow with one of these little jars of honey in honor of you guys’ visit,” Figarella told the British royals.
Melania added: “We’ll put in extra for Their Majesties, yes? Because they are lovers of honey.”
The first lady sported a buttercream yellow skirt suit designed by Adam Lippes during her meeting with the royals. Lippes famously dressed Melania in a lengthy navy coat for her husband’s inauguration in 2025.
In her 2024 self-titled memoir, Melania revealed that she became pen pals with King Charles, after being seated next to him during a state banquet in the U.K in 2019.
“I was seated next to Prince Charles, and it was an absolute pleasure to reconnect with him,” she wrote. “Our paths had crossed many years ago in New York City.
“This time we engaged in an interesting conversation about his deep-rooted commitment to environmental conservation.”
The first lady’s cheerful exchange with the King came on the same day she branded comedian Jimmy Kimmel as “hateful and violent” on X.
Melania took a swipe at Kimmel after he joked that she was an “expectant widow,” during one of his opening monologues last week.
The King had his own encounter with a comedian during his visit to the United States, as he crossed paths with Matt Friend, the star of CNN’s America Laughs, at a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence.
Friend mimicked the King’s distinctive voice in a video obtained by The Daily Mail as he joked that he was “trying to sound like” the British monarch.
The King laughed in response before quipping, “Keep trying.”
The King is set to address Congress on Tuesday and is widely expected to discuss the U.K.’s longstanding relationship with the United States amid ongoing tensions between the two nations.
In recent months, Trump has lambasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain’s stance on the war with Iran.
On Truth Social, he described the United Kingdom as “our once Great Ally,” and later told reporters that Starmer “is no Winston Churchill.”
Officially, the King’s visit will mark the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain.