King Charles to address Congress in state visit amid pressure from Epstein victims: Live updates
Written by: RACHEL BOWMAN, Senior US News Correspondent
Updated:
King Charles will give a historic speech to Congress today, as pressure increases to meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims during his visit to the USA.
Charles and Queen Camilla have a busy schedule for their second day in Washington DC, which includes a bilateral meeting with Donald Trump, a speech to Congress and an official state dinner.
The king is expected to emphasize the long history and shared democratic values of the two countries in his speech to help strengthen the UK-US special relations, which have been under serious tension in recent months.
His remarks came amid calls for the king and queen to meet with Epstein survivors during their visit, but the royal family has refused to do so.
Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office during the investigation into the Epstein files.
The visit is the most significant foreign trip of the King’s reign so far, but has been compounded by growing security concerns following an assassination attempt on the president on Saturday.
After ending up in D.C., the royal couple will head to New York to commemorate the victims of 9/11, then to Virginia to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
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King Charles will make a historic speech to Congress
King Charles will make a historic speech to Congress today at 15.00 GMT.
This is the first speech by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth’s speech in 1991.
The king is expected to emphasize the long history and shared democratic values of the two countries in his speech to help strengthen the UK-US special relations, which have been under serious tension in recent months.
Sources told CNN Charles would say that he brought ‘the highest respect and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States’.
He will highlight the common ties between the two countries, including ‘democratic, legal and social traditions’, and that ‘our two countries have always found ways to come together’.
British Ambassador: ‘We all share the same goal regarding Iran’
British Ambassador to the USA, Christian Turner, said that England and the USA ‘share the same goal on Iran’.
“There was initially a disagreement about launching the war pre-emptively, but the UK has since allowed its bases to be used for US bombers to launch defensive strikes,” he told Fox and Friends this morning.
‘We flew our aircraft alongside the remaining US defense systems in the region.’
He said Britain wanted the war to end and ‘hopefully an agreement to be reached that will open the Strait of Hormuz for all our economies’.
Royal family says they spent time with ‘smart people’ at garden party
The Royal Family shared on social media the time they spent at the garden party held at the British Embassy yesterday.
The Royal Family wrote to X: “Tonight Her Majesty spent time with wonderful people who contribute to the UK-US relationship.”
‘Held at the British Ambassador’s Residence, the first royal event to take place here was another Garden Party, held during the State Visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I in 1939.’
King Charles USA visit schedule
Here is the schedule for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s second day in the USA.
10.35 ET – The royal family’s arrival at the White House
11.10 ET – Guest book signing and official gift exchange
11.40 ET – Donald Trump and King Charles attended a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office
11.45 ET – First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla join students in exploring US-UK history through innovation at the White House tennis pavilion
15:00 ET – King Charles delivers joint address to Congress
19:00 ET – The royal family returns to the White House
20.05 ET – The President and First Lady hosted the King and Queen for a state dinner
The King and Queen’s afternoon meeting with the US President and First Lady
The US President and First Lady, King Charles and Queen Camilla, sipped one of their favorite teas as they began the first day of their state visit.
The royals drank the monarch’s favorite Earl Gray blend and enjoyed cakes and sandwiches as they arrived in Washington, D.C., in what is expected to be a landmark trip amid strained transatlantic ties.
Washington, DC covered with British flags
The British Embassy in Washington shared photos of British flags lining the streets in the US capital.
‘Washington is decorated with the flags of the UK, USA and DC, while King George III. Charles and Queen Camilla continue their historic State Visit today!’ The embassy wrote to X.
Officials celebrating America’s 250th anniversary will join the President and First Lady in their ceremonial arrival at the White House this morning.
‘In the afternoon the King will address the Joint Session of the Congress; This is a great honor for a visiting head of state. In the evening Her Majesty will attend a State Banquet at the White House.’
Trump says he ‘always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace’
Donald Trump praised the Daily Mail’s report that Robert Hardman’s ancestry goes back to King Charles.
‘Wow, this is nice. I always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! ‘I will speak to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!!’ Wrote at Truth Social.
Daily Mail revealed that President Trump and the King are cousins.
Jeffrey Epstein scandal revealed during royal visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla faced calls to meet with Jeffrey Epstein’s victims during their visit to the US.
Charles’ brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office during the investigation into the Epstein files.
Rep. Ro Khanna called on the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his convention speech.
Many Epstein victims, including family members of Virginia Giuffre, also urged Charles to meet with them or resolve the issue.
“This is a missed opportunity,” said Giuffre’s sister, Sky Roberts. Sky News.
‘It makes sense to look a survivor in the eye and say: “I promise you a fair and thorough investigation into this matter, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s my brother or whether there are other perpetrators out there. I, the King of England, stand with the survivors.”‘
According to sources, the royal family is choosing not to meet with survivors because they are aware that a meeting could affect the outcome of British legal investigations into Epstein’s close relationships with the British government and senior members of the royal family. CNN.
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