Touching down in the nation’s capital under a cloud of security and fierce political tension, King Charles III and Queen Camilla officially kicked off their four–day state visit on Monday.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump were on hand to welcome the royal couple at the White House in the afternoon.
Amid West Wing construction and fresh security concerns following the terrifying shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend, the royals were greeted by the President and First Lady, who was wearing a buttercream double-breasted wool crepe suit by Adam Lippes and Manolo Blahnik snake pumps.
Trump welcomed King Charles with a handshake while the First Lady kissed the Queen on both cheeks.
Before going inside, the President could be seen apparently pointing toward the ongoing ballroom construction on the grounds – a moment that seemed to draw the King’s attention.
The two couples then made their way inside for their private meeting, where they enjoyed tea in the White House’s lavish reception area in the Green Room. The group then headed outside to view the beehives.
On arrival, Her Majesty had changed out of her pink Dior coat dress into a white chiffon dress with black beaded embroidery by Anna Valentine.
The couples then swapped, Melania being kissed on each cheek by the King, as she leaned down to reach him, while President Trump and the Queen shook hands.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they arrive at the White House on Monday
The royal couple officially kicked off their four–day state visit in Washington, DC
Trump appears to point the King towards ongoing ballroom construction on the grounds
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Joint Base Andrews just outside Washington, DC
The royals were greeted by US Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley after landing
The King, Queen and the Trumps later enjoyed tea in the White House’s lavish reception area in the Green Room
The two couples took a walk on the South Lawn of the White House
The King, Queen and the Trumps looked at the White House’s beehives, including one shaped like the executive mansion
He then touched her lightly on the shoulder and invited her to stand next to him for a photograph.
Trump pointed to the floor and asked His Majesty to stand next to his wife.
As the cameras clicked, they made convivial small talk, Trump pointing out some landmarks, including, it is believed, a tree planted by his mother, Queen Elizabeth, when she visited in 1991.
Melania beamed at King Charles before her husband invited them inside for tea and to view the White House beehives.
The royal couple will later visit the British Embassy, where they will attend a garden party.
Arriving exactly two and a half centuries after his ancestor King George III lost the American colonies, the 77–year–old monarch steps onto US soil at a highly volatile juncture for the ‘special relationship.’
The glittering pomp of the tour – designed to honor America’s 250th anniversary of independence – is unfolding under a large security blanket following Saturday’s terrifying shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
With Trump in attendance at the event, the incident triggered an urgent 11th–hour security review of the King’s itinerary.
Addressing the weekend scare, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that the monarch was ‘greatly relieved to hear that the president, first lady and all guests have been unharmed.’
King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped off the plane for their first-ever state visit to the US as monarchs.
After leaving the airport, Their Majesties arrived at and briefly retired to Blair House, the beautiful guest house adjacent to the US leader’s official residence, where they will be staying for the duration of their four-day visit.
They were driven the short journey to the South Lawn by car and a heavily armed security detail, where the Trumps were waiting for them outside the iconic White Portico.
The couple had walked out moments earlier, just before the car – bearing the monarch’s standard and the American flag – pulled in.
Behind the smiles and handshakes, however, a bitter diplomatic storm is brewing.
The King’s visit comes as a furious Trump continues to slam UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his refusal to back US military operations in Iran.
In a stinging rebuke, Trump recently dismissed the British leader as ‘not Winston Churchill’ – ironically, the very Second World War icon who created the term ‘special relationship.’
The President’s upset has not been limited to Downing Street; he has broadened his attacks to include other NATO allies, branding them ‘cowards’ and ‘useless’ for avoiding the Iran conflict.
The royals meet White House assistant pastry chef Carlo Figarella on their tour of the grounds
The First Lady and the monarch appear animated during the walkabout
Behind the smiles and handshakes, however, a bitter diplomatic storm is brewing over NATO and the ongoing war in Ukraine
The visit comes as Trump has consistently lobbed harsh critiques at Prime Minister Keir Starmer
The President and First Lady have arranged a packed schedule for the King and Camilla
When asked by the BBC if the state visit could help mend the fractured US–UK bond, Trump was overwhelmingly positive.
‘He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely, the answer is yes,’ the President said.
Trump also frequently boasts about his own ‘amazing’ trip to the UK last September with Melania for a second state visit, complete with guardsmen, brass bands and a lavish Windsor Castle banquet.
Now playing host, the President and First Lady have arranged a packed schedule for the King.
Queen Camilla arrives to meet President Trump on Monday afternoon
While Charles has visited the US 19 times, this marks his first official state visit to the country since ascending the throne in 2022
The couple’s first day also included a trip to the British Embassy in Washington, DC
They viewed items to be placed in a time capsule in honor of America’s 250th anniversary
Yet, Trump insists this deep political freeze will not cast a shadow over his royal guests this week.
Speaking in March, he made it clear the monarch ‘has nothing to do with that,’ deliberately distancing Charles from the NATO disputes.
Instead, the President has enthusiastically praised the King, repeatedly calling him a ‘friend’ and a ‘great guy.’
The King and Queen take a look at a model of the new White House ballroom, a priority of President Trump
Monday’s itinerary included a one-on-one meeting between the President and the King as well as a sprawling garden party held at the British embassy
First Lady Melania Trump is seen glancing beyond King Charles as President Trump glances into the sky.
The couple’s itinerary also includes a one–on–one meeting between the President and the King, a sprawling garden party and a glamorous state dinner.
A major historic milestone will take place on Tuesday when Charles addresses a joint meeting of Congress.
He will be only the second British monarch to ever do so, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who addressed lawmakers in 1991.
While Charles has visited the US 19 times, this marks his first official state visit to the country since ascending the throne in 2022.
Starmer stood firm in defending this royal meeting as a vital diplomatic tool. He insisted that ‘the monarchy, through the bonds that it builds, is often able to reach through the decades’ to strengthen crucial international alliances.
