President Donald Trump praised the ‘special relationship’ between the US and UK in his welcome speech, while King Charles spoke about its historic importance in his address to Congress.
But it was Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump who really put on a show of togetherness – especially through their wardrobes.
During a state visit where photo ops were just as important as the words being said, the two wives proved that sartorial choices could make or break the picture of unity.
Thankfully, Camilla, 78, and Melania, 56, showed they were firmly on the same page, often mirroring each others style and subtly paying tribute to one another.
The stylistic outreach started as soon as the King and Queen arrived on Monday. Her Majesty looked elegant in a candy floss Dior coat dress as she disembarked the plane in Washington to begin their four-day trip to reinforce strained transatlantic ties.
Camilla’s striking dress was a particularly poignant choice given the designer fashion label is adored by Melania, suggesting the Queen was seeking to connect with the First Lady’s personal style preferences.
Next, the women complemented each other’s wardrobe choices during their first meeting on Monday, with both wearing spring outfits from local designers.
Camilla wore a white Anna Valentine coat dress featuring floral details, while the first lady sported a butter yellow skirt suit by Adam Lippes, the New York designer behind her inauguration coat.
First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla attend an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026
The following day at the official military greeting, the pair further twinned in similar emsebles. Melania wore a white Ralph Lauren skirt suit, while Camilla opted for a mint green outfit by Fiona Clare.
The shade of green was so pale it appeared white in some lighting, and their wide-brimmed straw hats were equally complementary.
Their biggest twinning moment came on Tuesday night, during the state dinner at The White House.
The dinner was meant to resemble an English garden, with both the Queen and First Lady sporting spring colors.
The First Lady chose to wear a pale delphinium pink silk strapless gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture, with off-white Dior suede gloves and matching Dior pale delphinium silk pumps.
Queen Camilla wore a deep pink gown by Fiona Clare with an amethyst and diamond necklace, which was gifted by a former Duchess of Kent to Queen Victoria and then passed to Queen Mary.
Meanwhile, King Charles’s wife has also in particular been intentional with her brooch selection.
On day one of the visit, she set the tone with a Cartier Union Jack and Stars and Stripes clasp first given to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, when she made her first trip across the pond as a British monarch in 1957.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla at the South Portico as they arrive for a state dinner at the White House
Camilla and Melania’s biggest twinning moment came on Tuesday night, during the state dinner at The White House
When they attended the state banquet at the White House, they picked gowns that complemented each other without overshadowing them
The stunning piece, fastened to Camilla’s dress, was studded with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies.
A key piece of diplomatic jewellery, the brooch symbolises the ‘special relationship’ and strong sense of unity shared between the UK and US and the Royal Family’s commitment to furthering that alliance during this trip.
She accessorised her outfit with a pair of pearl pendant earrings, valued at an estimated £38,000.
The following day, for their formal White House welcome on Tuesday, the Queen opted for yet another sentimental piece as she quietly honoured the late Elizabeth II yet again.
Her Majesty was typically elegant in a mint green coat dress which she later swapped out for a black and white ensemble; and pinned to her lapel was her mother-in-law’s glittering Cullinan V brooch, the 18.8-carat heart-shaped diamond that was among Elizabeth’s most treasured jewels.
The late Queen was famously seen wearing the brooch, which once belonged to her grandmother Queen Mary, in Prince Philip’s 99th official birthday portrait in June 2022.
And much like Elizabeth II had been, Camilla opted to wear it while supporting her husband.
Elsewhere, the state dinner proved to be a diplomatic success as both Trump and the King made comments about their countries’ shared backstories, with Charles calling the fete a ‘very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party’.
On day one of the visit, Camilla set the tone with a Cartier Union Jack and Stars and Stripes clasp first given to her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, when she made her first trip across the pond as a British monarch in 1957
The stunning piece, fastened to Camilla’s dress, was studded with diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies
The Queen and Mrs Trump catching up over a cup of Earl Grey tea in the White House’s Green Room after arriving in Washington DC on Monday
The King also called attention to the President’s ‘readjustments’ to the East Wing, which is no longer standing.
‘I’m sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,’ the King joked.
He also noted how the President recently said, ‘that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German’.
‘Dare I say it, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French,’ Charles said, cracking up the President and his guests.
The King then unveiled an extraordinarily personal gift for the President during his toast – a large gold bell that hung from the conning tower of HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine that fought in the Battle of the Pacific in the Second World War.
‘May it stand as a testament to our nations’ shared history and shining future,’ the King said of the gift. ‘And should you ever need to get hold of us, well, just give us a ring,’ the monarch quipped.
The gift echoed one from Queen Elizabeth II of the bicentennial Liberty Bell on her visit to the US in 1976.
Despite some clear policy differences expressed by the King in his speech to Congress earlier in the day, Mr Trump kicked off the dinner by complimenting it.
‘He made a great speech,’ Mr Trump said during a brief welcome ceremony on the South Lawn. ‘I was very jealous.’
Later, during his toast, the President explained what he meant.
‘I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today at Congress,’ Mr Trump said. ‘He got the Democrats to stand. I’ve never been able to do that.’
During the incredibly successful four-day state visit to the US, President Trump hailed Charles as ‘the greatest King’.
Royal aides were said to be grinning like Cheshire Cats at the perceived ‘triumph’ of the visit.
Especially after little more than an hour after Their Majesties left the White House, The President posted a remarkable message on his Truth Social media site, revealing he was removing whisky tariffs in their ‘honour’.
He said that while ‘people have wanted to do this for a long time’ the King and Queen ‘got me to do something that nobody else was able to do’.
The Scottish and UK governments had been lobbying the Republicans to end tariffs on the industry, as the US is the single biggest market for Scotland’s whisky.
One royal insider told the Daily Mail: ‘Both the President and First Lady couldn’t have been more lovely and hospitable. Really they were. It’s been a wonderful visit.’
