Here’s what to expect from The King’s State Visit to the US

King Charles and Queen Camilla are starting a hugely significant
State Visit to the US later, with the trip making headlines before
it’s even begun.

The King and Queen will spend three days in the US, cementing
ties in an event marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence.

It comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed the trip would go
ahead as planned after discussions around security, begun after the
shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner in which
President Trump was rushed from the room as gunfire was heard less
than 100 yards away from him.

The State Visit is the first to the US in the reign of King
Charles and is being seen as one of the most important moments of
his three year tenure so far. Political relations between the UK
and the US are unsteady with PM Sir Keir Starmer speaking out last
week after a memo appeared to show President Trump’s administration
sharing views on the future of the Falkland Islands.

President Trump’s deep admiration for King Charles, expressed
again just hours before the State Visit when the US President
called the Monarch a friend and praised his strength, has been a
vital factor in maintaining positivity, an issue that Buckingham
Palace is well aware of.

The State Visit, the first by a British Monarch to the US since
2007, will begin on the afternoon of April 27 with King Charles and
Queen Camilla arriving at the White House where they will be
greeted by Donald and Melania Trump.

This isn’t the official welcome – the fully ceremonial will take
place on the morning of April 28 within the tight security of the
White House. This first meeting is a chance to greet the royal
guests and after official photos are taken, King Charles and Queen
Camilla will take tea with Donald and Melania Trump.

The First Lady has taken a leading role in organising this State
Visit and the first part of the event will see her show one of her
latest creations to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Melania Trump
has recently expanded the bee colony at the Presidential residence
and The King and Queen will be shown the latest hive, shaped as the
White House.

The King and Queen will then head to the official residence of
the UK ambassador where they will host a garden party, a rare
occurrence on a State Visit. It will allow Charles III to follow in
the footsteps of his grandfather, King George VI, who hosted a
garden party there during his own visit to the US in 1939.

The full pomp and pageantry of the State Visit kicks in from
April 28 when King Charles III addresses Congress and is guest of
honour at a State Banquet held by Donald Trump at the White
House.

The trip will also see King Charles and Queen Camilla visit New
York and Virginia.

Full coverage of the State Visit to the US on Royal Central and on our
social media.