King Charles III begins four-day US state visit to mark America's 250th birthday and reinforce US-UK ties

King Charles III's state visit to the United States — his first as monarch — unfolds against a backdrop of both celebration and diplomatic strain. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley of Rice University told the Associated Press that Charles faces the challenge of separating the monarchy from current political friction, noting that "politics come and go, prime ministers, presidents, come and go, but there's something deeper about the special relationship between the United States and the U.K."

The trip was arranged by the British government despite pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel it after President Trump publicly criticized Starmer's refusal to support U.S. policy on Iran and made disparaging remarks about Britain's military record in Afghanistan. The AP reported that Trump has nonetheless continued to speak warmly about Charles personally, and Brinkley said history suggests Trump "really tries to be impressive whenever he's dealing with British royalty."

A central moment of the visit will be Charles's address to a joint session of Congress, where observers say he is expected to echo themes set by Queen Elizabeth II in her 1991 congressional address — democratic values, the rule of law, and the durability of the Atlantic alliance. Robert Hardman, author of a biography of Elizabeth II, described Charles's message to the AP as: "No hard feelings, it's been a great divorce, we've had a lovely 250 years and let's reflect on the high points."