{"id":557333,"date":"2026-04-29T18:40:12","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/557333\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T18:40:12","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:40:12","slug":"king-charles-iii-of-united-kingdom-to-u-s-congress-christian-faith-is-a-firm-anchor-and-daily-inspiration-that-guides-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/557333\/","title":{"rendered":"King Charles III of United Kingdom to U.S. Congress: ‘Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>U.S. Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., look on as Britain’s King Charles III addresses members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington April 28, 2026. He became the first British monarch to address the Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. (OSV News photo\/Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters)<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 King Charles III appealed to the Christian faith and invoked \u201cshared values\u201d between the United Kingdom and the United States<\/a> as he called for peace around the globe during an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress April 28.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Speaker,\u201d Charles said, directing his comments to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., \u201cfor many here, and for myself, the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us, not only personally, but together as members of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times. Through it I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is why it is my hope \u2014 my prayer \u2014 that in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of plowshares into swords,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Britain\u2019s King Charles III addresses members of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington April 28, 2026. He became the first British monarch to address the Congress since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991. (OSV News photo\/Elizabeth Frantz, Reuters)<\/p>\n

Noting that Christians are still celebrating the season of Easter, which he called \u201cthe season that most strengthens my hope,\u201d the king said, \u201cI believe with all my heart that the essence of our two nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen neutral understanding and to value all people of all faiths and of none.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charles\u2019 comments came amid combat operations in Iran initiated by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 that have been criticized by world leaders, including Pope Leo XIV and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.<\/a> In defense of U.S. combat operations, the Trump administration has argued the Iranian regime presented grave nuclear threats.<\/p>\n

During his speech in honor of the 250th anniversary of American independence from Great Britain, Charles noted a certain irony in \u201cmy five-times great-grandfather, the third King George\u201d as a central figure in that story, quipping, \u201cPlease rest assured I\u2019m not here as part of some cunning rearguard action.\u201d<\/p>\n

U.S.-British alliance, he said, has been an \u201cindispensable partnership\u201d that should continue to be built upon.<\/a><\/p>\n

Charles gave the speech on the second day of a four-day state visit with Queen Camilla to the U.S. to mark the nation\u2019s semiquincentennial, with stops in Washington, New York and Virginia. The king said they plan to pay their respects \u201cto the victims, the families and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss\u201d on Sept. 11, 2001, while in New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stood with you then, and we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, walk with Britain\u2019s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington April 27, 2026, on the day they meet for afternoon tea. Two and a half centuries after the American colonies declared independence from Britain under King George III, his descendant King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House with trans-Atlantic ties under strain and security in the spotlight. (OSV News photo\/Aaron Chown, pool via Reuters)<\/p>\n

Citing the international cooperation after that attack, when Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty was invoked for the first time in the common defense of the U.S. as a NATO member, \u201cwe answered the call together, as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder through two World Wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan and moments that have defined our shared security.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, Mr. Speaker, that same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The plea comes as Trump and some Republicans have grown critical of U.S. support for Ukraine as it fends off Russia\u2019s invasion.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in his comments, Charles said that \u201cfrom the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward looking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Charles also condemned political violence after a gunman\u2019s attempted assault April 25 on the annual White House Correspondents\u2019 Association Dinner, where President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, members of the Cabinet and lawmakers were in attendance.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me say with unshakeable resolve: Such acts of violence will never succeed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington. Follow her on X @kgscanlon.<\/p>\n

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