King Charles to deliver major speech urging UK and US to come together | Royal | News

The King’s speech to Congress today will reaffirm the shared democratic values ​​of the UK and US, which have been deeply woven into the fabric of both nations over the last 250 years. He will open his speech with a reference to Saturday evening’s events in the spirit of solidarity, sympathy and support, offering “the greatest respect and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States” in this landmark anniversary year.

Much of the speech that Her Majesty has written on the advice of the Government will reflect the major challenges, both national and international, that we currently face. This will be seen as a tacit acknowledgment of recent tensions over the Iran war, as the king told both houses that “our two countries have always found ways to come together”.

He came after the US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s public response to the Iran war, with the President expanding Britain’s military capabilities by making snide comments about his UK counterpart.

Other topics to be touched upon in the 20-minute speech will be the importance of trade and technology, the environment and the King’s own faith.

Charles will also reflect on his own service in the Royal Navy, despite President Trump dismissing Britain’s naval capabilities and calling aircraft carriers “toys”, adding that “our defence, intelligence and security ties are measured in decades, not years”.

The King is expected to conclude his speech by stating that the story of our two nations over the last 250 years has been a tale of “reconciliation and renewal” that has led to “one of the greatest alliances in human history”; An alliance that His Majesty hopes and prays will continue to uphold and celebrate the values ​​to which he refers into the future.

This was only the second time a British monarch addressed a joint meeting of Congress; the first was the late Queen Elizabeth in 1991.

In a nod to recent tensions, Charles will state that while Britain and the United States have not always agreed on all issues over the past 250 years, the foundations of their “democratic, legal and social traditions” dating back to Magna Carta “have always found ways for our two countries to come together.”

He is also poised to point out how the US and UK have stood together at defining moments in their shared history and that “our defence, intelligence and security ties are measured in decades, not years”.

It comes after the King and Queen kicked off their four-day state visit to the US yesterday by drinking tea with the US President and First Lady and attending a Garden Party celebrating the 250th anniversary of American Independence.

Leaving RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire as planned on Monday morning, Charles and Camilla were greeted with military fanfare as they disembarked from UK Government aircraft at Joint Base Andrews airbase.

The royal couple took poses from children of British military families based in the US before being greeted by a large welcoming party of diplomatic, federal and state representatives, including British Ambassador to the US Sir Christian Turner.

The King and Queen then walked through an honor cordon, an official ceremonial guard formed by US personnel, while a military band played the national anthems of the two countries.

The King and Queen were taken directly from the airport to Blair House, located inside the White House security cordon, for a quick refreshment, then driven outside the iconic semicircular South Portico.

Mr. and Mrs. Trump stood at the end of the red carpet in their butter yellow skirt suits, waiting to greet their guests. The President bowed his head and, smiling from ear to ear, stepped forward to greet the King, while the First Lady also leaned down to kiss the Queen on both cheeks.

Wearing a white chiffon dress with black beaded embroidery by Anna Valentine, Camilla then went up to Mr. Trump and shook his hand warmly, and the King greeted the First Lady with two kisses.

The four then chatted amicably while posing for photos, before the President invited the couple inside and placed his hand on the King’s arm as they turned to get away from the bright sunlight.

After a beer, the President led the party to the White House beehives, a nod to the King’s love of beekeeping. The monarch has long kept hives in her homes, including Highgrove House, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace.

Officially established in 2009, the beekeeping program at the White House supports the pollination of nearby gardens while also serving as a permanent feature of the grounds. The First Lady recently opened a newly installed apiary on the South Lawn, shaped like the White House and housing two new bee colonies that Her Majesty admired.

Completing the first day of their four-day trip, the King and Queen met with guests at a private Garden Party held at the British Ambassador’s Residence. The party first hosted such an event in June 1939 for Charles’ grandfather, King George VI.

Outside, the King and Queen joined more than 600 guests, from politics, science and sustainability to charities tackling domestic abuse, community organizations and creative industries across the US.

The state visit was described as a great honor for both the King and the United Kingdom as it was the first official state visit of the second Trump administration. But it is also considered the most important foreign trip of the King’s reign so far, amid growing security concerns.

While the president and his senior team are said to be excited about the visit, UK officials do not expect any controversy during the four-day trip.

Highlights of the trip include Charles’ speech to both houses of Congress, a lavish state dinner at the White House and the royal couple’s ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks that destroyed New York’s Twin Towers.