King and Queen meet the cream of DC society and a host of UK stars at lavish garden party thrown in their honour at the US Ambassador’s Washington residence as Day One of their state visit concludes

King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up the first full day of their historic US state visit by hosting a lavish garden party for 650 guests in Washington, DC.

The event, held at the British Embassy, ​​brought together a range of British and American figures, from politicians and officials to aid leaders and sports stars, as the monarch seeks to strengthen strained transatlantic ties.

Her Majesty hosted the garden party just hours after landing at Joint Base Andrews; Here they were greeted with gifts and a military band as they got off the plane and walked down the red carpet.

After standing for the British and US national anthems, 77-year-old Charles and 78-year-old Camilla were taken in a motorcade to the White House, where they were welcomed by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania.

The royal family drank tea in the Green Room and were taken to the garden to see the newly expanded beehive, rebuilt in the form of a miniature White House, before attending a garden party at the UK embassy.

At traditional garden party fare, guests were treated to 3,000 handmade sandwiches, including Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and horseradish sandwiches made using British cuts imported under new tariff-free deals, egg mayonnaise and light cucumber chutney, followed by scones.

Guests included Olympic diver and famous knitter Tom Daley, as well as soccer star Esme Morgan, the Lionesses’ World Cup-winning star who plays for the Washington Spirit.

Political figures included Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senator Ted Cruz, former speaker Nancy Pelosi and current speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

King Charles and British Ambassador to the United States Christian Turner walk at the garden party. The king’s popular ‘fiery horse’ is pictured at right

King Charles met with Olympic diver and famous knitter Tom Daley, 31, who now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

King Charles and President Donald Trump pass a painting depicting Trump’s assassination attempt in 2024 while touring the White House

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump meet King George III as they arrive at the South Portico of the White House. Charles and Queen greet Camilla

Prince William’s former school friend Guy Pelly, who now lives in the United States, also attended the meeting.

Daley, 31, who now lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children, jetted in for the day to attend the garden party.

She said: ‘Knitting is an outlet for all my creativity, awareness and meditation, and the King has tried knitting many times.

‘She said she tried knitting when she was eight and wasn’t very good at it, but she could pick it up again; He knows it’s good for his mental health.

‘But I want to get it back into the school curriculum and maybe he can help me do that.’

But before joining the garden, the King and Queen saw a time capsule created to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary this year.

A commemorative coin specially made by the Royal Mint was placed inside the capsule, inside which was a proclamation from the King and articles written by local Washington schoolchildren.

It will be placed under the Washington Monument on the National Mall in the capital, which will be opened later this year when the 500th anniversary of the independence of the United States is celebrated.

The capsule will be paired with another capsule placed under the statue of George Washington in London’s Trafalgar Square last June.

Before the garden party started, Camilla admitted she was experiencing ‘quite jet lag’.

Earlier in the day, Charles and Camilla were officially welcomed to the White House by Trump and the First Lady; here the two couples exchanged warm greetings before retreating inside for private discussions over tea.

The meeting, deliberately kept away from cameras, marked the opening of the first US state visit of the King’s reign; This four-day tour is seen as crucial to the so-called ‘special relationship’.

First Lady Melania Trump meets King George III of England while touring the White House Beehive on the South Lawn. laughing with Charles

King Charles speaks with White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller during the event

King Charles speaks with Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi at lavish garden party

Camilla poses with cadets during the Garden Party

Charles examines items to be placed in a time capsule to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States

Items placed inside the time capsule, including a commemorative coin made specially for the occasion by the Royal Mint

Claire Turner, Queen Camilla, King Charles III and British Ambassador to the US Christian Turner pose for a photo in front of the British Embassy

President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, King Charles III and Queen Camilla tour the White House Beehive on the South Lawn of the White House

The two couples then toured more of the White House grounds and examined the vegetable garden.

Monday’s itinerary included a one-on-one meeting between the President and the King, as well as a large garden party held at the British embassy.

The king has been tasked with using the monarchy’s soft power to stabilize relations that have become increasingly tense in recent months.

Arriving in Washington on the British Government’s GBNI aircraft, Charles and Camilla were given a ceremonial welcome at Joint Base Andrews, where a military guard and band rolled out the red carpet in bright sunlight.

Camilla made a meaningful diplomatic gesture by wearing a historic pin featuring the Union flag with the American Stars and Stripes; This piece is actually II. It was given to Elizabeth as a gift during her visit to the USA in 1957.

Following their trip to the capital, the royal couple were welcomed to the South Portico of the White House, where Camilla and Melania kissed. Charles shook hands with Trump before greeting the First Lady.

The two couples then sat down privately for tea in the Green Room, with the discussions carefully hidden from public view; this was a sign of the sensitivity surrounding the visit.

The risky trip comes against the backdrop of recent tensions in which Trump has criticized the UK government’s foreign policy stance and openly clashed with Sir Keir Starmer.

Despite this, the President signaled his desire to use the visit to strengthen ties, describing Charles as “my friend” and a “brave” man.

Queen Camilla also used the event as an opportunity to meet with representatives of four child abuse and domestic violence charities in Washington DC.

King Charles and Camilla were unable to meet Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and survivors during their four-day visit due to ongoing legal cases, including the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Buckingham Palace said.

Speaking to representatives of charities against domestic violence and child abuse, Camilla said: ‘Nice to meet you, wish we could have talked longer.’

The President and First Lady prepared a busy schedule for the King and Camilla

On the set table in the Green Room there was cake, honey, biscuits and tea.

King Charles laughs with the President as they meet for tea

Although Charles has visited the United States 19 times, this is his first official state visit to the country since his accession to the throne in 2022.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met King George III, who arrived at the White House on Monday. Charles and Queen greet Camilla

Two couples went for a walk on the South Lawn of the White House

Sandra Jackson, chief executive of the House of Ruth women’s shelter, later praised Camilla as ‘someone who could bring notoriety to this cause’.

He added: ‘He thanked us for our work and hoped that progress was being made and progress was made for the future.

‘It was nice to be able to thank him for what he did and for bringing attention to this cause.’

Asked whether the King and Queen should meet Jeffrey Epstein’s victims and survivors, he said: ‘I respect their decision.’

Michelle DeLaune, chief executive of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, praised the Queen as “fantastic” for “raising awareness” and “keeping the dialogue going”.

The garden party, held at the British Ambassador’s residence, also included charities My Sister’s Place, DC Safe and DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

The carefully choreographed day took place under heavy security following the attempted assassination of Trump at a media dinner in Washington a few days earlier.

Charles is understood to have privately expressed his ‘condolences to all those affected’ and gratitude to the security services, while officials confirmed ‘all appropriate security measures have been taken’.

The visit, which will include a state banquet at the White House, a trip to New York and a historic speech to Congress, is being closely watched on both sides of the Atlantic.

In his speech to Congress on Tuesday, the King is expected to emphasize that although Britain and the US have faced disagreements over the last 250 years, ‘our two countries have always found ways to come together’.

It will also offer ‘the highest respect and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States’, underlining the enduring alliance at a time of global uncertainty.

There will also be another traditional military arrival ceremony, where couples will inspect the army and conduct a corps review.

Later in the day, the King is also expected to attend a bilateral meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office.