Britain's King Charles III and U.S. President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle in September, 2025, during Trump's second state visit.ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are going ahead with a state visit to the United States in April despite ongoing tension between U.S. President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that the King and Queen will make a visit to the U.S. at the end of April.
“Their Majesties’ program will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence,” the Palace said in a statement.
This will be the King’s first state visit to the U.S., and it comes seven months after Mr. Trump’s state visit to Britain, making him the second U.S. President to be given such an honour.
As Prince of Wales, Charles visited the U.S. 19 times and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007.
The Associated Press
The U.S. ambassador to Britain, Warren Stephens, has said that Charles has been asked to address both houses of the U.S. Congress.
Mr. Starmer spent much of last year trying to cultivate a close relationship with Mr. Trump. Along with extending the invitation for the state visit, Mr. Starmer was often effusive in his praise of the U.S. President. The tactic worked somewhat and Britain largely avoided the extensive tariffs Mr. Trump slapped on imports from other countries, including Canada, and the European Union.
Trump praises King Charles during Windsor Castle banquet as U.K. state visit kicks off
But the relationship has soured in recent weeks. Mr. Starmer has been critical of the U.S. and Israel air strikes on Iran and he has insisted that Britain will not be drawn into the war. He has also refused to allow the U.S. military to use bases in Britain for offensive raids on Iran.
That has drawn the ire of Mr. Trump, who has lashed out at Mr. Starmer. “The U.K. might be considered the number one ally, the longest serving et cetera and when I asked for them to come, they didn’t want to come,” he said earlier in March. “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
There have been growing calls in Britain to cancel or at least postpone the King’s state visit.
Trump tells U.K. he doesn’t need its help to win war with Iran
“At a time when Trump has launched an illegal war that is devastating the Middle East and pushing up energy bills for British families, it’s clear this visit should not go ahead,” said Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats. “A state visit from our King would be seen as yet another huge diplomatic coup for President Trump, so it should not be given to someone who repeatedly insults and damages our country.”
A recent poll in Britain by YouGov also found that nearly half of those surveyed – 49 per cent – were opposed to the trip.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Mr. Trump told Britain and other countries to “go get your own oil” from the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by the Iranian army.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you.”
“Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.”
He added that Britain had to learn “how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you any more, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!”