King Charles III on Tuesday called for the United States and Britain to renew their longstanding transatlantic alliance, speaking at a White House state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump amid tensions over Iran and Ukraine.
Speaking alongside Trump for the first time during his four-day state visit, Charles avoided direct mention of friction between the US leader and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. However, the British monarch highlighted a partnership in which London and Washington had 'stood together in the best of times and worst of times.'
'Tonight, we are here to renew an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens,' said Charles.
The menu for the lavish dinner included a garden vegetable veloute, spring herbed ravioli, Dover sole meuniere, and White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Cremeux. Guests included Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Nvidia's Jensen Huang, and two-time Masters-winning golfer Rory McIlroy, born in Northern Ireland.
Earlier in Congress, Charles urged the United States to stand firm with its Western allies in a warmly received speech. As the royals arrived for dinner, Trump praised the 'great speech' and said he was 'very jealous,' even though Charles covered sensitive topics like climate change, restraints on presidential power, NATO's importance, and Ukraine's defense.
Addressing lawmakers during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence, Charles stressed that 'unyielding resolve' was needed to secure a 'just and lasting peace' in Ukraine, which has faced a full-scale Russian invasion since 2022.
Trump Hails Britain as Closest Ally
Earlier, Trump hailed Britain as America's closest ally as he welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House. Speaking after a pomp-filled welcome on the South Lawn featuring a 21-gun salute, Trump struck a markedly warmer tone than in recent criticism of Starmer.
'In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British,' Trump said, hailing the 'special relationship' and the military partnership between the two countries.
Cannons rang out while a military band played the British and US national anthems. Charles shook hands with top Trump administration officials and inspected troops on the lawn with the president. Four US jets roared over the White House in a noisy flypast as Trump, Charles, Camilla, and First Lady Melania Trump watched.
The visit comes at a delicate moment, with Trump criticizing Britain over its stance on Iran and other policies. Despite tensions, the US president struck a jovial tone, joking about his Scottish-born mother having 'a crush on Charles' ahead of talks in the Oval Office.
'He's a fantastic person. They're incredible people and it's a real honor,' Trump told reporters after the closed-door meeting.
King's Address to Congress
The king's address to Congress — the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 — was the centerpiece of the visit. Charles pointed to shared democratic traditions, describing Congress as a 'citadel of democracy' and stressing the common legal roots of the two nations.
He noted that Magna Carta had been cited in more than 160 US Supreme Court cases, highlighting — to rapt applause from opposition Democrats — the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.
The monarch also emphasized deep defense and economic ties, saying cooperation in security, technology, and trade remains central to the alliance. 'Our defense, intelligence and security ties are hardwired together,' he said.
Security has been tight during the visit following an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at a weekend Washington media gala. 'Such acts of violence will never succeed,' Charles said.
The royal couple attended the state dinner later Tuesday, capping a visit that mixed ceremony with sensitive diplomacy.
