King Charles begins US visit amid tensions over Iran war

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday for a four-day state visit marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, as diplomatic tensions cast a shadow over the trip.

The British monarchs met President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House for tea before attending a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.

The visit comes at a sensitive time for US-UK relations, strained by the ongoing war in Iran. President Trump has criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to provide military support, while the British government hopes the King’s visit can help ease tensions, despite the monarch’s need to remain politically neutral.

The trip is also underway in the aftermath of a shooting at a press gala in Washington on Saturday, which prompted heightened security across the capital.

King Charles is expected to make a brief reference to the incident during his scheduled joint address to Congress on Wednesday.