Charles and Camilla say ‘God Bless America’ in heartfelt leaving message after triumphant US trip as Donald Trump hails ‘the greatest king’
The King and Queen said they left a piece of their hearts in the United States as they wrapped up their State Visit on Thursday.
In their official message, King Charles and Queen Camilla thanked Americans for “the warmth of your welcome and the kind support you have given us” during their four-day trip, which coincided with the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
His Majesty said that after the King’s visit, where he met with President Donald Trump and gave a historic speech to the US Congress, they left a piece of their hearts behind and ‘took a piece of you home’.
The message ended: ‘Until next time… God bless America.’
As the royal couple left the US, Mr Trump said he would lift all tariffs and restrictions on whiskey imports in honor of their visit.
The president said the couple “made me do something no one else could do without even asking.”
In response, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said the King had expressed his ‘heartfelt gratitude’ to Mr Trump and said it would be ‘a great blow to the President’s thoughtfulness’.
The Royal Family’s official X account published a farewell message, including a photo of the royal couple at Blair House, the president’s guesthouse opposite the White House, where they stayed during the visit.
The King and Queen published a farewell message at the end of their official visit to the USA and shared a photo they took together at Blair House, where they stayed throughout the trip.
Her Majesty also shared a photo of the New York skyline on Tuesday, with the JPMorgan Chase building illuminated by the Union flag and the Empire State Building in red, white and blue.
Charles and Camilla were photographed looking at each other in the Jackson Place living room, wearing blue and white outfits respectively.
In another image accompanying the farewell message, a Union flag was placed atop the JPMorgan Chase building in New York, next to the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building, illuminated by red, white and blue lights.
The full message read: ‘On this special anniversary, we bid farewell and thank you for the warm welcome and kind support you gave us during our first visit to the United States as King and Queen.
‘We are leaving a part of ourselves’ [heart emoji] Turn around and take a little bit of yourself home with us. Until next time… God bless America.’
It was signed: ‘Charles R. and Camilla R.’
The visit, which saw the King and Queen travel to Washington DC, New York and Virginia, was seen as a success by commentators who praised Charles’ speech to Congress and the removal of whiskey tariffs.
Charles and Camilla issue farewell message at the end of their triumphant four-day State Visit
When the visit ended, US President Donald Trump announced that he would remove all tariffs on whiskey in honor of the King and Queen.
This, coming in the middle of the US-led war on Iran and following Mr Trump’s harsh criticism of NATO, was initially seen as a risk; He said the military alliance ‘wasn’t there when we needed it’.
But on Thursday the president hailed Charles as the ‘greatest King’ and reportedly described the Royal couple as ‘wonderful people’.
‘For a few days at least the relationship will be as ‘special’ as it has ever been,’ Mail columnist Robert Hardman wrote this week.
At the end of his US visit, the King flew to Bermuda for a three-day solo tour.
Arriving at LF Wade International Airport at dusk, the UK Government’s Airbus flew the Royal Standard and Bermuda flags from the cockpit window.
Charles was welcomed by Bermuda Governor Andrew Murdoch, Prime Minister David Burt and his wife Kristin, a small guard of honor formed by the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
The king will be welcomed with a lavish and flamboyant ceremony on Friday, including a 21-gun salute.
