King Charles gave Donald Trump a warm handshake while Camilla kissed Melania Trump on both cheeks as the two couples met at the White House on Monday afternoon.
The four then posed side by side for photographs prior to heading for their private tea which will mark their first opportunity to talk away from the cameras during the visit so far.
Britain hopes the State Visit will warm struggling relations between Britain and America against the backdrop of the Iran War.
King Charles and Queen Camilla Touch Down at Joint Base Andrews
King Charles touched down in Washington D.C. Monday afternoon. Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Joint Base Andrews where they were greeted by diplomats including Britain’s ambassador to America Sir Christian Turner.
The couple were due to be given flowers from children of British military families based in America before heading on to the White House for a private tea with President Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
Why It Matters
The official purpose of the visit is to mark 250 years since the Declaration of Independence but tensions between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arising from the U.K. resisting the President’s request for Britain to join the Iran War have created an additional backdrop.
The hope in Britain is that Trump’s often discussed love of the British Monarchy may help restore the alliance between Britain and America.
King Charles Arrives For First Day of State Visit to America
Charles and Camilla touched down a little earlier than expected and took time to speak to diplomats and other dignitaries waiting for them on the runway.
The Trumps were expected to welcome them to the White House at the South Portico before the two couples enjoy a private tea away from the cameras at which they will get their first proper opportunity to speak in depth during the visit.
His Majesty’s Ambassador Christian Turner said, in a statement, “Their Majesties are celebrating 250 years of friendship, common history and common values.”
Ambassador Monica Crowley, Chief of Protocol of the United States, added in a statement, “We are delighted to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the United States as we honor our enduring and instrumental diplomatic partnership on the occasion of America’s 250th birthday.”
“Every aspect of the White House program has been thoughtfully designed by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to celebrate our rich shared history – and to look forward to the next 250 years of the special relationship.”
Dr. Patrick Allitt, Professor of History at Emory University, told Newsweek the king’s best strategy would be to avoid the political backdrop completely: “Even Trump knows that the king isn’t a policy maker, Trump just loves bask in the reflective glory of just being in the presence of the king.
“It helps him to feel important. So that the actual policy questions are relatively insignificant. And all the king has got to do is make sure he doesn’t make any substantive comment on all the important issues.”
Calls to Cancel King Charles’ State Visit to America
There have been multiple calls in Britain to cancel the visit, initially due to anger on the part of some politicians at Trump’s comments towards the U.K. In particular, many reacted badly after Trump said in January that Nato forces, which included Britain, “stayed a little back, a little off the front lines.”
Trump later added: “The GREAT and very BRAVE soldiers of the United Kingdom will always be with the United States of America!”
However, as Trump took repeated swipes at Keir Starmer over Britain’s reluctance to be drawn into the Iran War, opposition politicians began ramping up their calls to cancel the trip, led by Ed Davey leader of the Liberal Democrats.
“Keir Starmer should advise the King that the state visit to the U.S. scheduled for April should be called off,” Davey said last month. “At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it’s clear this visit should not go ahead. A state visit from our King would be seen as yet another huge diplomatic coup for President Trump, so it should not be given to someone who repeatedly insults and damages our country.”
More recently though, security concerns have given some in Britain an additional reason to ask for the visit to be scrapped.
This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.