King Charles III called on April 28 for the United States and Britain to renew their longstanding transatlantic alliance, in a speech at a White House state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump.
Speaking alongside Trump for the first time during his four-day state visit, Charles skirted around any direct mention of the bad blood between the U.S. leader and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
But as in his rare address to Congress earlier in the day, the British monarch highlighted a partnership in which London and Washington had "stood together in the best of times and worst of times."
"Tonight, we are here to renew an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizen," said Charles.
Earlier in Congress, Charles urged the United States on April 28 to stand firm with its Western allies in a warmly received speech.
As the royals arrived for dinner Trump also praised the "great speech" and said he was "very jealous," even though Charles ranged over sensitive subjects from climate change and the need for restraints on presidential power to the importance of NATO and the defense of Ukraine.
Addressing lawmakers during celebrations marking 250 years since American independence, Charles stressed that "unyielding resolve" was needed to secure a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine, which has been fighting a full-scale invasion by Russia since 2022.
Trump earlier hailed Britain as America's closest ally as he welcomed Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House on a four-day state visit.
Speaking after a pomp-filled welcome on the South Lawn featuring a 21-gun salute, Trump struck a markedly warmer tone than in recent criticism of Starmer.
"In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British," Trump said, hailing the "special relationship" and the two countries' military partnership.
Cannons rang out while a military band played the British and U.S. national anthems, before Charles shook hands with top Trump administration officials and inspected troops on the lawn with the president.
Afterward, four U.S. jets roared over the White House in a noisy flypast as Trump, Charles, Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump watched.
The king's address to Congress, the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, was the centerpiece of the visit.
Charles pointed to shared democratic traditions, describing Congress as a "citadel of democracy" and stressing the common legal roots of the two nations.
He noted that Magna Carta had been cited in more than 160 U.S. Supreme Court cases, highlighting, to rapt applause from the opposition Democrats, the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.
The monarch also emphasized deep defense and economic ties, saying cooperation in security, technology and trade remains central to the alliance.
"Our defense, intelligence and security ties are hardwired together," he said.
