King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel to the United States this week for an official state visit, making stops in New York and Washington, where they will meet with President Trump and the king will deliver an address to Congress.
The visit was arranged to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, and planning began long before the United States and Israel launched their war with Iran in late February — a conflict that has put considerable strain on the U.S.-U.K. relationship. But Mr. Trump has long indicated a great fondness for the monarch, and the trip could go some way to smoothing over recent tensions.
The trip will last from Monday through Thursday. Here’s what to know.
Why is King Charles visiting now?
The official visit, carried out on behalf of the British government, is intended to celebrate the connections between the two countries and acknowledge their longstanding relationship, and it is timed to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence this year.
Buckingham Palace called the visit “an opportunity to recognize the shared history of our two nations; the breadth of the economic, security and cultural relationship that has developed since then; and the deep people-to-people connections which unite communities.” » | Megan Specia | Reporting from London | Sunday, April 26, 2026
