King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the United States for their first official state visit as the British monarchs. Charles and Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews for their four-day trip.
King Charles Met with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania
The British Government has tasked the King to refresh the “special relationship” between the US and the UK.
The royal couple was greeted by the new British Ambassador, Sir Christian Turner, and his wife, Lady Turner, as well as senior members of the embassy team.
Charles and Camilla had tea with the Trumps. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump held the tea in the Green Room at the White House in Washington, D.C.
The tea served as the opening engagement of the royal pair’s US state visit. The King and Camilla also attended a garden party at the British Embassy.
The gathering marks the start of Charles and Camilla’s official state visit. The reception at the ambassador’s residence brings together a wide array of guests.
Despite the incident at the White House correspondent’s dinner this past weekend, where the President and his guests evacuated because an intruder fired shots, the visit continued as planned.
What occurred this weekend was an apparent assassination attempt on the President. The incident required extra precautions for Charles and Camilla’s state visit.
The purpose of this visit is to reinforce the ties between Britain and the US. Trump and Charles both know that there is more that unites the two nations than divides them.
During an interview, President Trump described King Charles as “my friend” and a “brave man.” However, Trump and the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer famously don’t get along.
The Last US Royal Garden Party Was During a Visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939
The tradition of royal garden parties began in the 1860s during Queen Victoria’s reign. Queen Victoria held the first official garden party in 1868 at Buckingham Palace.
To this day, the British royal family hosts three garden parties each year, one of which is at Holyrood House. However, royal garden parties in the US are a rarity.
The last one occurred during a visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the parents of Queen Elizabeth II, in 1939.
Some of the guests at the garden party included members of the Trump administration, such as deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
There were some Democrats at the shindig, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Also, some other guests included representatives from charities meaningful to Charles and Camila.
Queen Camilla was snapped alongside Michelle DeLaune, CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
There were also representatives from charities that tackle domestic abuse, as well as from the creative industries.
Camilla supports several charities that help vulnerable women and children. The four-day visit includes a state banquet dinner tomorrow night at the White House.
According to the Daily Mail,
“No expense will be spared with four kinds of sandwiches showcasing the best of British, Scottish salmon with lemon butter, roast beef and horseradish, egg mayonnaise and pickled cucumber, along with some homemade bakes, scones, clotted cream, and strawberry jam.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the US was specifically meant to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
And as always, don’t forget to check back with Daily Soap Dish for all of the latest news on the royal family right here.
