US State Visit Day 2: King Charles and Trump trade jokes at white tie dinner

In his speech, King Charles is tasked with strengthening the UK's relationship with the US, at the center of which is Donald Trump, while also sticking up for Britain's values, maneuvering around the  issues the King and American president are at odds with, currently the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The aforementioned UK ambassador joined King Charles in the Oval Office this afternoon ahead of the address to congress, along with Donald Trump and members of his cabinet, including J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, and Scott Bessent.

The King later also met with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

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Congress, as well as members of Donald Trump's cabinet, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and others have gathered on the House floor ahead of King Charles's speech.

They all stood and took part in a standing ovation as the King and Queen Camilla entered the room.

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"I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress," the King said. "This citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms."

The last royal to address the House floor as such was his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. "Speaking in this renowned chamber of debate and deliberation, I cannot help but think of my late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who, in 1991, was also afforded this signal honor and similarly spoke under the watchful eye of the Statue of Freedom above us," he shared. 

"Today, I am here on this great occasion in the life of our Nations to express the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States."

Reflecting on the bond between the UK and the US, which he noted "spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries," Charles reiterated Trump's own words said during State Visit to Britain last Autumn: "The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable."

Charles referenced the Magna Carta, the foundational legal text issued in 1215 by King John of England, establishing that the monarch was subject to the law, not above it.

He noted that the own U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that the document is cited in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, "not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances."

Emphasizing not only his Christian faith but also how he has simultaneously devoted himself to interfaith relationships as well, his Majesty said: "Through it I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other."

He emphasized: "It is why it is my hope – my prayer — that, in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of plough shares into swords."

"The first reigning British Sovereign to set foot in America was my Grandfather, King George VI. He visited in 1939 with my beloved Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. The forces of Fascism in Europe were on the march, and some time before the United States had joined using the defense of freedom," King Charles said. 

"Our shared values prevailed. Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain."

The King started his speech by thanking the American people for welcoming himself and Queen Camilla to the US, noting how for the 250 years that the United States have existed, both the UK and the US "have been interlinked."

"As Oscar Wilde said: 'We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language!'" he said, before acknowledging the "times of great uncertainty" in which the two countries are meeting, as well as the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, just this past weekend. 

He then maintained: "Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed. Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries."

The UK and Trump have been at odds over Russia's war in Ukraine, with Trump making the US an outcast among NATO countries with his willingness to support Ukraine.

Charles recognized how the US and the UK have supported each other in "the face of terror," and maintained: "Today, Mr. Speaker, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people – in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace," receiving a swift standing ovation again.

King Charles, a long advocate for strong climate change policy, another issue he finds himself at odds with Trump, also said: "As we look toward the next 250 years, we must also reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard Nature, our most precious and irreplaceable asset."

He continued: "Millennia before our Nations existed, before any border drawn, the mountains of Scotland and Appalachia were one; a single, continuous range, forged in the ancient collision of continents."

"Even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of Nature. We ignore at our peril the fact that these natural systems – in other words, Nature’' own economy – provide the foundation for our prosperity and our national security," he noted.

Though Charles' speech was pointed, charming, and did not veer away from striking a contrast with what Trump has himself presented on the world stage, one topic void from it was late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his victims. 

Ro Khanna, the Democratic Congressman from California who has been a staunch advocate for victims of the disgraced financier, had shared with reporters ahead of the speech that he was expecting the King to address, even apologize, to the victims, given his brother Andrew's alleged involvement, noting UK Ambassador Christian Turner had suggested it could be the case during the King's speech.

Charles' words were subtly riddled with cautionary messaging, pointed seemingly towards the issues — and vitriol — plaguing American politics today.

"America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence. The actions of this great Nation matter even more," he advised. 

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"President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do. And so, to the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world."

The speech overall emphasized democratic values, the rule of law, and the power of alliances, many of the things Trump has become known to rail against when he has expressed his dissatisfaction with Europe and the UK.

As analysts and royal experts have noted, much of Charles' messaging differed from that of Trump's.

Also strikingly different? The way the Oval Office looked during Charles' separate visits. The first, his most recent, April 28, 2026, the second, while Barack Obama was in office, in 2015, and the third, all the way back in 1970, when then Prince Charles met with Richard Nixon.

2026

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2015

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1970

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Asked how the King felt the address went, a spokesperson for the Palace told HELLO!: "The King was deeply honored to have been invited to be the first British King to give such an address and was greatly touched by the warmth and generosity of the response he received."

It's already been a very busy day, but it's far from over.

I am handing things over to our Los Angeles correspondent Rebecca Lewis, who will take you through the remainder of the royals' second day in the US.

Still to come: Trump's state banquet, of which our reporters on the ground will bring you all the details.

Stay tuned!

What a day it has been for those of us who enjoy the cross-section of politics and the monarchy.

King Charles became the first British King to give a speech to the US Congress, and the event overran by at least 10 minutes according to the ​HELLO! team on the ground due to many, many standing ovations.

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There was a two-minute standing ovation when the King and Queen first walked into the room, and the next ovation came "only 75 words into his speech," shared Emily Nash.

There were 11 standing ovations in total.

Following Charles' speech, the King met with a small group of technology entrepreneurs and sector leaders in the Lee Drawing Room at Blair House, the official President's Guest House.

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Varun Chandra, the PM’s special envoy to the US on trade and investment, was there, as well as Jeff Bezos (CEO Amazon), Tim Cook (CEO Apple), Ruth Porat (President and CIO Alphabet/ Google), and Marc Benioff (CEO Salesforce).

It's been a big day for the King and Queen, but it's not over yet. 

Tonight, the pair will attend their fourth engagement of the day, the State Dinner with the President and First Lady Melania Trump.

We've received first details about the State Dinner, which wil include four courses, three wine pairings,  and tables set with more than 250 pieces of vermeil from the White House collection.

The menu is making our mouths water. 

The office of First Lady Melania Trump has shared that the first course will be a "delicate garden herb velouté, silken and aromatic, complemented by a refreshing hearts of palm salad," while the second course is a "handcrafted spring herb ravioli, featuring herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden, generously filled with creamy ricotta, earthy morels, gently dressed in a light parmesan emulsion".

The third course will be a dover sole meunière, "expertly prepared and bathed in a nutty brown butter" and accompanied "by tender spring ramps, sweet snow peas, layered potatoes pavé, and a vibrant parsley oil for a refined, seasonal finish".

Dessert will be a "beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau with a smooth vanilla bean crémeux custard, delicately set inside with an almond joconde...  complimented with crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey".

The evening’s entertainment will feature performances by the United States military musicians from the Marines, Army, and Air Force, including “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, The United States Army Chorus, The United States Army Strings, The United States Army Herald Trumpets, The United States Air Force Singing Sergeants, The United States Air Force Strings.

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Ivanka Trump has shared a sneak peek of her outfit for the State Dinner, an icy blue Reem Acra gown.

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Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump are both pretty in pink at the State Dinner.

Melanis has picked a pale delphinium pink silk strapless gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture, with off-white Dior suede gloves.

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Her Majesty is wearing a deep pink Fiona Clare evening gown, with an amethyst and diamond necklace gifted by a former Duchess of Kent to Queen Victoria, which was later passed to Queen Mary.

"He made a great speech... I was very jealous," President Trump tells waiting media before the State Dinner.

The guest list for the State Dinner has been confirmed, with golf champion Rory McIlroy and his wife attending, as well as Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren. 

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For a full gallery of all the best pictures from tonight's State Dinner, read our feature here.

Trump and King Charles have arrived in the ballroom, and Trump is now addressing the guests.

"I want to congratulate Charles on having made a fantastic speech today, he was able to make the Democrats stand up, I've never been able to do that," Trump quipped as he took to the stage.

Day two of King Charles and Queen Camilla's historic visit to America ended with a highly-anticipated state dinner that saw the King give a poignant and at times hilarious speech that also referenced his son, Prince William, and grandson Prince George.

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Charles referenced the impact the UK has had on the American landscape, sharing that his "family’s history remains reflected in your maps, which read rather like our Christmas card list across the ages – North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the cities of Charleston (a particular favourite of mine, obviously), Georgetown (and, for that matter, Georgia),  Annapolis, and (further favourites) Prince William County and Williamsburg."

Read the full story here.

Our very own royal editor Emily Nash was at the State Dinner, and noted that the White House chose a "very Windsor-esque table setting," with the flowers and greenery, as eell as the arrangement of glasses, recalling dinners at Windosr Castle.

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In a personal gift to Mr Trump, the King presented the president with the original bell from the Royal Navy Second World War submarine HMS Trump, quipping: “If you should ever need to get hold of us… well just give us a ring.”

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