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King Charles and Queen Camilla’s historic U.S. tour has come to an end.

The king waved one last time as he boarded a plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and took off. He next heads to Bermuda, making Charles’s first visit as monarch to a British overseas territory.

Earlier in the day, he and Camilla were at the White House, where they bid farewell to the U.S. president and first lady. Speaking upon their arrival, Donald Trump said America needed more people like Charles, whom he called the “greatest king”.

“We need more people like that in our country,” he told journalists. “Great, really, great people.”

After the White House, the royals headed to Arlington National Cemetery and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Then they were on to the Virginia town of Front Royal for a parade and party in honor of 250 years of American independence.

Next, the king paid a visit to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, where he met with U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, while the queen toured a horse farm in the state.

As the royals wrapped their U.S. visit, President Trump announced he was lifting some whisky-related tariffs that were impacting the U.K. “in honor of the King and Queen.”

ICYMI: The key takeaways from King Charles’s historic US Congress speech

King Charles III centred transatlantic harmony in his historic speech to both houses of Congress, receiving multiple standing ovations and a rapturous response.

He became the second monarch, after his mother Queen Elizabeth II, to stand and speak in front of representatives in the iconic US Capitol Building. The King is currently visiting Washington DC on a four-day state visit that many hope will appease US president Donald Trump, as relations with the UK are currently in a difficult place.

The parallels between the two speeches, 35 years apart, were notable. When the late Queen gave her speech in 1991, Republican George HW Bush was president and Conservative John Major was prime minister, and the two nations grappled with the Gulf War and the pending dissolution of the Soviet Union. Spectators at the time reflected on the late Queen’s sense of humour, her focus on the “special relationship” and calls for transatlantic cooperation.

As Charles stood where his mother had, instability in the Middle East and eastern Europe remains just as prevalent, and the themes of his speech were much the same, as he referred to the importance of Nato and the interlinked destinies of the UK and US.

Bryony Gooch has the story.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 22:43

The view from the palace on the royal visit

King Charles and Queen Camilla are done with their U.S. tour.

Here’s how the royal family summed up the final day in the States on its website:

On the final day of the State Visit, The King and Queen brought their time in Washington, D.C. to a close with a formal farewell to the President and First Lady in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room—an occasion that marked both an ending and a reaffirmation of the enduring relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States.

From the White House, Their Majesties travelled to Arlington National Cemetery.

Against the backdrop of military ceremony – including a 21-gun salute and the playing of both national anthems – The King and Queen approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the United States’ most sacred memorials. The King laid a wreath; The Queen followed with a posy. A military band played as silence fell across the site, offering a moment to remember those who have given their lives in service.

The visit echoed a moment from history – Queen Elizabeth II’s own tribute here in 1957 – and underscored the deep-rooted military ties between the UK and the US.

Their Majesties also spent time within the cemetery’s exhibition spaces, meeting service personnel from across the UK and Commonwealth, and pausing at the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, a reminder of the shared sacrifices made long before America formally entered the First World War.

Later, in the small town of Front Royal, Virginia,The King and Queen stepped into a vibrant community celebration.

Main Street was alive with marching bands, cheerleaders and vintage cars, as residents gathered for a traditional American “block party” marking the nation’s 250th anniversary. Their Majesties joined locals at a potluck table—a symbol of shared community—offering a British dish alongside the contributions of neighbours and families.

Moving through the town square, they met a wide cross-section of the community: young people, volunteers, first responders and local charities. The celebration also shone a light on regional heritage, with bluegrass music and Appalachian dancing bringing to life traditions shaped by centuries of history.

Meanwhile, The Queen visited Smitten Farm, where her focus turned to the world of horseracing and equine welfare.

Meeting breeders, veterinarians and industry leaders, Her Majesty learned about the work being undertaken to improve safety and standards across the sport. From young foals to retired racehorses beginning new roles, the visit highlighted both the tradition and the evolving responsibility at the heart of the industry.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 22:23

How America’s fake newspaper covered the queen’s real visit

Jimmy Kimmel isn’t the only one making jakes about Melania Trump.

The Onion, the popular satirical newspaper, had a brief headline today about how the first lady is hosting Queen Camilla.

“Melania Takes Camilla On Fun Girls’ Day Of Staring Coldly Across Empty Room In Silence,” the line read.

That joke wasn’t quite as edgy as Kimmel’s recent one about Melania.

Learn more about the Kimmel saga in our full coverage.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 22:03

Queen’s visit to Virginia farm highlights shared US-UK love for horse racing

While King Charles visited Shenandoah National Park on Thursday, Queen Camilla was at a horse farm near The Plains, Virginia.

Camilla, a patron of horse racing in the U.K., was met by farm manager Hunter Marek and her daughter, Violet, who gave the queen flowers.

The queen’s visit was meant to highlight the shared love of horse racing in the U.S. and U.K., and the shared ties between equestrians in both nations.

(Reuters)(Getty)(Getty)

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 21:39

PHOTOS: King Charles departs U.S. after whirlwind tour

King Charles and Queen Camilla have now concluded their tour of the United States.

The king waved goodbye one last time as he was boarding his plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

His next stop is Bermuda.

(Getty)(Reuters)(AFP/Getty)

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 21:34

Charles speaks with members of Monacan nation during park tour(Getty)

As part of his visit on Thursday to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, King Charles spoke with members of the Monacan Indian Nation.

The nation counts much of Western Virginia as its ancestral territory. Its ancestors have inhabited the region for more than 10,000 years.

Today, there are more than 2,000 active members.

The Monacan are distinct for being one of the few Indian nations within the U.S. still remaining on parts of their original homeland.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 21:22

King Charles attends swearing-in ceremony for junior park rangers

During his visit to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park on Thursday, King Charles was a guest of honor at a swearing-in ceremony for a new group of youth Junior Ranger program participants.

Elsewhere during the stop, the king marked a visitor’s park passport with a commemorative stamp made for the occasion of his visit.

Charles also met some of the National Park Service’s non-human ambassadors, including a “Bark Ranger” dog and Buddy, a bald eagle used in educational efforts.

(Getty)(Getty)

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 21:10

King Charles takes in the view at Shenandoah National Park

King Charles continued his U.S. tour on Thursday with a visit to Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park, where he was treated to sweeping views of the Shenandoah Valley.

While at the park, the king and U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum unveiled a pair of commemorative stones, one from the Appalachian Mountains and another from Balmoral, symbolizing a new partnership between Shenandoah National Park and the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands.

As Charles noted in his address to Congress, the Appalachians and Cairngorms were once connected.

The king also met with members of the Monacan Indian Nation.

(Getty)(Getty)(Reuters)

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 20:52

‘It was amazing’: Americans can’t contain their excitement over royal visit

It’s not every day a monarch comes to America, and U.S. residents seemed over the moon at the chance to host King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Sarah Morey, 50, waited hours to get a glimpse of the pair during their stop at an American independence-themed parade on Thursday in Front Royal, Virginia.

She’s been a fan of the royal family since she watched the marriage of Charles and Princes Diana years ago.

“250 years, it was time we got back together,” she told USA Today. “It was amazing.”

When a British Embassy advance team was scouting out a midday stop for the royals, a gas station attendant reportedly burst into tears of joy that the king and queen might briefly drop in, Politico Playbook reports.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 20:36

Why Trump wants Starmer to ‘learn to deal like the King’

Donald Trump has said that that Sir Keir Starmer should “learn to deal” in the same manner as King Charles, as he continues his criticism of the prime minister.

“I can tell you one thing, our relationship is very good, but you know, that’s another individual. We’ll find out.

“But I like Keir Starmer very much, but I think he’s made a tragic mistake on immigration and a tragic mistake on energy.”

Holly Evans has the story.

Josh Marcus30 April 2026 20:18