King Charles will deliver a historic address to Congress today as pressure to meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims looms over his visit to the United States.
Charles and Queen Camilla have a jam-packed schedule for their second day in Washington, DC, which includes a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump, his address to Congress and a formal state dinner.
The king is expected to emphasize the two countries’ long history and shared democratic values during his speech in an effort to help strengthen the special UK-US relationship, which has been under serious strain in recent months.
His remarks come amid calls for the king and queen to meet with Epstein survivors during their visit, which the royals have declined to do.
Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the probe into Epstein files.
The visit is the most important foreign trip of the King’s reign so far, but it now has the added element of heightened security concerns after an attempted assassination of the president on Saturday.
After the royal couple wraps up in DC, they will head to New York to honor 9/11 victims and then to Virginia to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.
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King Charles to deliver historic address to Congress
King Charles will deliver a historic address to Congress at 3pm ET today.
It is the first address from a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth’s in 1991.
The king is expected to emphasize the two countries’ long history and shared democratic values during his speech in an effort to help strengthen the special UK-US relationship, which has been under serious strain in recent months.
Sources told CNN that Charles will say that he brings ‘the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States.’
He will focus on the common ties between the two countries, including ‘democratic, legal and social traditions’ and that ‘time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together.’
King Charles US visit schedule
Here is what’s on the schedule for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s second day in the US.
- 10.35am ET – Royals arrive at the White House
- 11.10am ET – Guestbook signing and official gift exchange
- 11.40am ET – Donald Trump and King Charles participate in a bilateral meeting at the Oval Office
- 11.45am ET – First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla join students in exploring US-UK history through innovation at the White House tennis pavilion
- 3pm ET – King Charles delivers at joint address to Congress
- 7pm ET – Royals return to the White House
- 8.05pm ET – The President and First Lady host the King and Queen for a state dinner
Inside King and Queen’s afternoon sit-down with the US President and First Lady
The US President and First Lady sipped on one of King Charles’ favourite teas as he and Queen Camilla kicked off day one of their state visit.
The royals drank the monarch’s favoured Earl Grey blend and enjoyed cakes and sandwiches as they arrived in Washington, DC for what is expected to be a landmark trip amid strained transatlantic ties.
Washington, DC covered in British flags
The British Embassy in Washington shared photos of British flags lining the streets in the US capital.
‘With Washington bedecked in UK, US, and DC flags, King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue their historic State Visit today!’ the embassy wrote on X.
‘Celebrating America in its 250th year, they will join the President and First Lady for a ceremonial arrival at the White House this morning.
‘In the afternoon, the King will speak to a Joint Session of Congress, a high honour for a visiting head of state. In the evening, Their Majesties will participate in a State Banquet at the White House.’
Trump says he has ‘always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace’
Donald Trump praised Daily Mail reporting from Robert Hardman that traced his linage to King Charles.
‘Wow, that’s nice. I’ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! I’ll talk to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!!’ he wrote on Truth Social.
The Daily Mail discovered that President Trump and the King are cousins.
Jeffrey Epstein scandal looms over royal visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla have faced calls to meet with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein during their visit to the United States.
Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the probe into Epstein files.
Representative Ro Khanna urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.
Several of Epstein’s victims, including family members of Virginia Giuffre, have also urged Charles to meet with them or address the issue.
‘This is a missed opportunity,’ Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, told Sky News.
‘It means something to look into a survivor’s eyes and say: “I promise to give you a fair and thorough investigation in this, and that does not matter if it’s my brother or if it’s other perpetrators out there. I, the King of England, stand with survivors.”‘
The royals are opting not to meet with the survivors because they conscious that a meeting may affect the results of British legal inquiries into Epstein’s close relationships with senior members of the British government and royal family, sources told CNN.
