Washington: Donald Trump spoke fondly of the special relationship between “the two most unique nations the world has ever known” as he officially welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House on the first full day of their visit to the United States.
The US president said America had no “closer friend than the British”, citing their shared history, language and values, while praising Charles for his focus and public service.
“His Majesty’s intelligence, passion and dedication have long been a blessing to the British people – not just to his own country, but to the cherished relationship between the United States and Great Britain,” Trump said. “I’m sure it will continue that way into the future.”
The brief speech followed a reception on the humid South Lawn of the White House, where the two men sat down for a bilateral meeting. Later, Charles was due to travel a short distance to Capitol Hill to become the second British monarch – and the first monarch – to address a joint session of Congress.
The royal visit comes at a sensitive time for US-UK relations after Trump turned to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his reluctance to participate in the war against Iran.
Shortly before the welcoming ceremony, a explosive report in Financial Times revealed British ambassador to the US Christian Turner – who was sitting in the front row – told a group of British students that Israel was a country with which the US had a special relationship.
“I think there’s probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States — and that’s probably Israel,” Turner told students in February, according to a recording obtained by the newspaper.
He also said it was “strange” that the Jeffrey Epstein scandal had not had more of an impact in the United States, compared to the UK where it brought down his predecessor as ambassador. Peter Mandelsonand it is doing a lot of damage to Starmerwho appointed Mandelson.
The monarch will discuss US-UK relations in her speech to Congress, and is also expected to touch on NATO and the US-UK-Australia alliance, according to Buckingham Palace officials. The king previously explained the importance of AUKUS during the Trump administration’s visit to the UK last year.
The royal family were treated to English weather on their first full day of their trip to America, with a light drizzle falling during the official welcome ceremony at the White House.
Dignitaries seated across the lawn held umbrellas as the Presidential Navy Band played for about 20 minutes before the Trumps emerged from the South Portico to welcome Charles and Camilla, who arrived in a black BMW from Blair House shortly before 11am.
Charles then shook hands with frontline US officials – Vice President JD Vance, cabinet secretaries Marco Rubio, Scott Bessent, Pete Hegseth, Howard Lutnick and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles – while Trump shook hands with Brits, including Secretary of State Yvette Cooper and Turner, the ambassador.
National songs God Save the Queen and Star-Spangled Banner was played amid cannon fire, before Trump walked Charles through a military honor guard. After returning to the stage, Trump awkwardly stood backstage for several minutes as the band finished playing.
“This is a good day for the British,” he began, to laughter from the large crowd gathered on the lawn. “And it’s true.”
While Trump’s speech focused on the enduring relationship between the two nations, it also had several tender moments, including when he spoke of his mother Mary MacLeod’s admiration for Queen Elizabeth II and her eldest son, Charles.
“My mom would be interested in television, and say, ‘Look Donald, look how good that is,'” Trump said of watching royal celebrations when he was younger.
I also remember him saying very clearly, ‘Young Charles, he is very handsome.’ My mother loved Charles very much. Can you believe it?”
Trump also told the King his much-anticipated speech to the US Congress “will make everyone jealous of your beautiful accent”.
Following the ceremony, the four walked up the steps of the South Portico, and Trump and Charles spoke as they stood on the balcony and waited for a military flyover of four F-35 fighter jets. Camilla and first lady Melania Trump stood by their husbands.
The first lady wore a white silk and cotton coat and shirt by Ralph Lauren Collection, with a straw hat and pumps by Eric Javits and Manolo Blahnik. Camilla wore a green coat and matching hat, adorned with a Cullinan V Diamond brooch.
As an official gift, the monarch will give the president a framed photograph of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk at the White House, the original of which is held at the National Maritime Museum in London.
The president, meanwhile, gave the king a special copy of a letter written in 1785 by John Adams, the first American ambassador to England, to the American statesman John Jay.
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Michael Koziol is the North American correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, deputy editor of the Sun-Herald and federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect through X or email address.
