Donald Trump has expressed admiration for King Charles once again and reassured that his strained relationship with PM Keir Starmer will not affect the monarch’s upcoming US state visit. The US president has criticized the Prime Minister for decisions related to North Sea drilling and migration, hinting at possible changes to the UK-US trade deal. King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit the US from April 27 to 30, coinciding with the deteriorating transatlantic relations due to Trump’s criticisms of the UK and Nato allies. The historic visit, marking the King’s first trip to the US as monarch, will commemorate American independence’s 250th anniversary. Trump praised Charles as a “great gentleman” during an interview with Sky News, emphasizing their long-standing acquaintance and downplaying any impact of his disagreements with Starmer on the royal visit.
During the visit, the royals will participate in various events, including a traditional American Block Party in Virginia and an informal welcome by President Trump and the First Lady in Washington. The itinerary includes a private tea, a Garden Party, and a formal ceremony at the White House, featuring a military review and a State Dinner. King Charles will address Congress on April 28, only the second British Monarch to do so after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The royal couple will also visit the 9/11 memorial in New York and engage with the community in Harlem.
Following the US trip, Queen Camilla will return to the UK, while King Charles will visit Bermuda from May 1-2, his first official visit to a British Overseas Territory as Sovereign. In Bermuda, the King will explore a museum exhibition on the island’s history, focusing on its ties to the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Additionally, he will meet with representatives from the UK Space Agency to discuss plans for a new telescope site in Bermuda aimed at enhancing global space debris tracking efforts.
