King Charles heads to the United States for the most high-profile trip of his reign so far
Us President Donald Trump has said next week’s state visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla could help repair relations with the UK.
When asked in a phone interview with the BBC whether the visit could help repair the relationship, Trump said: “Absolutely. He’s fantastic. He’s a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes.”
It know him well, I’ve known him for years,” he said. “He’s a brave man, and he’s a great man. They would absolutely be a positive.”
King Charles heads to the United States for the most high-profile trip of his reign so far, on a mission to shore up the future of the two allies’ “special relationship” which the Iran war has plunged to its lowest point in 70 years.
The state visit marks the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence from British rule, when the then 13 American colonies decided to split from King George III, Charles’s five-times-great-grandfather.
For Charles, it will be a moment to reflect on how Britain and the United States have come together since then to forge some of the world’s closest security, military and economic ties, while for US President Donald Trump it will be another chance to indulge his love of the British royals.
It also comes against the backdrop of the worst relations between the two countries since the Suez Crisis in 1956, with repeated criticism by Trump of Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his refusal to join the attack on Iran and dismissive remarks about Britain’s military capabilities.
Charles, accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla, will kick off the four-day trip on Monday with a private tea with Trump before addressing Congress, a state dinner and visits to New York and Virginia.
Buckingham Palace has said he will not be meeting any survivors of Jeffrey Epstein. Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of leaking government documents to the late U.S. sex offender.
