After two official trips to the United Kingdom in 2019 and last September, it is Donald Trump’s turn to welcome Charles III and Camilla to Washington at the end of the month.
A new attempt at appeasement by banking on Donald Trump’s weakness for the British royal family? Nearly seven months after his state visit to the United Kingdom, King Charles III is preparing to meet the American president. Accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, the sovereign will travel to the United States from April 27 to 30 next, as Buckingham Palace has just announced.
The details of the trip have not yet been revealed, but we already know that Charles and Camilla will go to Washington. On the way back, the couple will visit in Bermuda, from April 30 to May 2, and will thus make his first trip to overseas territory since Charles ascended the throne in 2022.
Without waiting for the official press release from the Palace, Donald Trump hastened to announce his network Truth Social that a “magnificent banquet” will be given in honor of the royal couple at the White House on April 28. “This milestone will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of our great country. I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I deeply respect. It will be great!”, wrote the American president on March 31. The BBC suggests that the king should give a speech to Congress. A royal visit in which First Lady Melania Trump will also take part.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip during their official visit to the United States, alongside George W. Bush and his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, on May 7, 2007 at the White House in Washington. © Abaca
Charles and Camilla will lead the first British state visit since that of Elizabeth II, which dates back to 2007. The late queen had made a total of four visits to the United States, notably in 1976 to celebrate the bicentenary of independence American.
A state visit under tension
This new state visit comes at a time of tension between London and Washington, as the war broke out at the end of February in the Middle East. by American-Israeli strikes against Iran continues. As AFP recalls, Donald Trump did not spare Prime Minister Keir Starmer since the start of the conflict, accusing the British leader of having supported his great American ally too weakly.
King Charles, his daughter-in-law Princess Kate Middleton and Donald Trump, during the state banquet given at Windsor Castle in honor of the visit of the American president, September 17, 2025. PA Photos/ABACA / © PA Photos/ABACA
Maintaining strict political neutrality, Charles III, 77, has not made a public comment on the American president’s desire to make Canada – of which the king is the head of state – the 51st American state. Which did not prevent him from defend the sovereignty of this country during a highly symbolic visit in May 2025.
Another sensitive point of this visit to the United States: the Windsors’ links with the Jeffrey Epstein affair, following the arrest of ex-Prince Andrew, brother of King Charles, under suspicion of having transmitted confidential information to the American child molester and financier who died in 2019.
