King Charles paid a touching tribute to the fallen as he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The monarch, 77, and Queen Camilla were greeted with a 21 gun salute as the royal couple arrived at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia – one of the United States’ most significant sites of military remembrance.
They laid a wreath and a posy at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to commemorate the nation’s war dead and honour the UK-US military partnership.
Queen Elizabeth II visited the cemetery in 1957 during her first State Visit to the United States, also laying a wreath.
It came after the King and Queen were welcomed back to the White House this morning by President Trump after a triumphant four-day State Visit.
Their Majesties bid a formal farewell to the US leader and First Lady Melania in the Diplomatic Reception Room after they spent the day in New York yesterday.
The couple arrived in an official car to be greeted by the President and First Lady outside of the South Portico, posing for photographs after a little rearranging on the red carpet.
President Trump pointed to the King and said: ‘He’s a great King.’ Asked what his favourite part of the visit was by reporters, Charles replied but his answer was discernible.
Charles pays he respects as he visits the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery — April 30, 2026
Queen Camilla lays a bouquet of flowers — Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, April 30, 2026
As they left some 20 minutes later, The Queen gave a cheery wave to reporters both outside of the car and through its half-open window as the couple departed the White House.
As the car drove away, the President was seen to gesture ‘ok’ and heard to say what sounded like: ‘Great people. We want people like that in our country. They were really great.’
It was the final of five meetings between King Charles and President Trump, who has made no secret of his admiration for the British Head of State.
While diplomats are under no illusion of the fluid nature of the US leader’s affections – British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is most definitely on the ‘naughty step’ – it is clear that the King has lived up to hopes he will prove to be a ‘Trump whisperer’.
The warmth between the two men has been visible, with President Trump praising Charles as a great ambassador for his country.
Later, Their Majesties visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where the national anthems of the UK and the US were played.
Charles and Camilla approached the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, escorted by Major General Gant and Ambassador Monica Crawley.
Since 1921, it has provided a final resting place for an unidentified American service member from the First World War, with ‘Unknowns’ from later conflicts interred in 1958 and 1984.
Soldiers from nearby Fort Myer were first assigned to guard the Tomb during daylight hours in 1926, and, since 1937, the Tomb has been guarded 24 hours a day.
At the Tomb, the King laid a wreath and the Queen a posy. A military band played four muffled ruffles and taps, before a moment of silent remembrance.
Inside Arlington’s Display Room, the King and Queen will be given a short tour of the exhibition by the Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera, and senior historian Dr Allison Finkelstein.
King Charles lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery — April 30, 2026
Charles and Camilla are accompanied by Maj. Gen. Antoinette Gant and Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — April 30, 2026
Donald Trump points at King Charles as they stand outside the White House alongside Queen Camilla and Melania Trump — April 30, 2026
Trump pointed at Charles and called him ‘the greatest king’ as they posed for pictures outside the White House — April 30, 2026
King Charles III arrives at the White House ahead of a departure ceremony to meet with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump — April 30, 2026
Mr Trump chats with Charles and Camilla alongside a smiling Melania. It was the final of five meetings between the King and the US President — April 30, 2026
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Donald Trump, and Melania Trump stand outside the White House during a farewell ceremony — April 30, 2026
President Trump and Charles share a smile. The warmth between the two men has been visible during the King’s State Visit — April 30, 2026
Melania shakes the 77-year-old monarch’s hand before His Majesty departs. Charles and Camilla bid a formal farewell to the US leader and First Lady Melania in the Diplomatic Reception Room — April 30, 2026
Charles and Melania kiss each other the cheek before the King and Queen Camilla depart the White House — April 30, 2026
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk with King Charles and Queen Camilla for a farewell ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House — April 30, 2026
The US President gives a thumbs-up and Melania waves as Charles and Camilla depart — April 30, 2026
The US President and the First Lady meet Charles and Camilla on April 30, 2026, outside the White House — April 30, 2026
Trump and King Charles shake hands before His Majesty departs the White House — April 30, 2026
Before leaving, they will also view the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, dedicated to those US citizens who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and lost their lives in the First World War.
More than 40,000 residents of the United States enlisted in the CEF prior to US entry into the war in April 1917.
At the Cross, Their Majesties will meet two groups of serving military personnel from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, before departing with another 21 gun salute.
This afternoon they will travel to Virginia for a more relaxed end to their trip, enjoying a lively Block Party – the US equivalent of a street party – in the pretty town of ‘Front Royal’.
Excited locals have been busy setting up since 5am and queuing to get a front-row spot to see the visiting royals.
Some spoke to local television station ABC13.
‘We came out early just to be part of the event, just to be part of the experience here. We never dreamed of the king, queen, or even come, you know, even Virginia, just much less Front Royal. So we just had to be a part of it,’ said Mark Anderson.
Kaden Anderson said: ‘I mean, I’m excited. It’s just like, because, like, this is a small place, like, you know, there’s not much, like, big things happening here. So our king and queen of England come here, out of all places, it’s very nice, and I’m very excited to see it.’
Residents say they hope the visit will help with visitor numbers to the region, seen as a gateway to the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains.
Queen Camilla kisses Melania Trump on the cheek as Her Majesty is greeted for a departure ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House — April 30, 2026
Mr Trump raises his hand in an ‘OK’ sign as Charles and Camilla depart the White House — April 30, 2026
Honor guards from all branches of the military service of the US march in before Charles and Camilla arrive to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington National Cemetery — April 30, 2026
‘I’m proud that they chose this place to come and visit. You know, we’re kind of like tucked away, and to have something of such prestige come and visit. And a lot of us have, you know, after the ancestry thing that we’ve all done, might have a little touch of British in us,’ said Brenda Taylor.
While there are several theories about the origins of the town’s name, the most widely accepted is that it was named after a giant oak tree – the ‘royal’ tree of England – that stood in the public square during colonial times.
The local militia was drilled there, with soldiers often given the command ‘front the Royal Oak!’ And this got shortened over the years to ‘Front Royal’.
It is now a picturesque town of 15,000 inhabitants on the banks of the Shenandoah River, with a quintessential American Main Street.
