King Charles and Queen Camilla have been greeted by Donald Trump and US first lady Melania Trump after landing in the US for the start of their four-day state visit.
The royals touched down at the Joint Base Andrews air base in Maryland, a short distance from Washington, Monday afternoon Eastern Time.
The historic visit, the King’s first visit to the US as monarch and the first state visit of any British monarch since 2007, celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence.
It follows the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday night, which was thrown into chaos after an attempted attack on the US president, who was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents.
Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday that Charles’s visit to Washington would still go ahead largely as planned, but some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements are expected.
It comes as UK-US relations have become strained following tense conversations between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
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Key Points
- King Charles and Queen Camilla land in US
- In pictures: The Trumps greet King Charles and Queen Camilla
- In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla greet guests at garden party
- 'Every measure will be taken to protect the King' in Washington, minister says
- What's on the agenda for day one of King Charles' historic US state visit?
British ambassador says it's 'tremendous honour' to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla
00:40 , Rachel DobkinA tremendous honour to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Joint Base Andrews today as they begin an historic #StateVisit26 pic.twitter.com/pdInEzClHv
— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCDO) April 27, 2026
Watch: King Charles and Queen Camilla visit White House beehive with Donald Trump and Melania
00:20 , Rachel DobkinA look into the early moments of King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit
00:00 , Robert JobsonAt 4:17 p.m., a black BMW drew up at the White House, sixth in a 29-vehicle convoy. Melania Trump kissed Camilla. The Queen had changed — white chiffon by Anna Valentine, beaded in black.
The First Lady wore a buttercream Adam Lippes suit, Manolo Blahnik snake pumps. The King kissed Melania. Warm handshakes for the President. Then tea in the Green Room, and the new South Lawn beehive.
This is the first state visit to America by a reigning British monarch since Elizabeth II in May 2007. It lands on the 250th anniversary of American independence. A piece of timing nobody in either palace failed to notice.
A state dinner will be held Tuesday, after the King’s address to a joint meeting of Congress — only the second British monarch to do so, after his mother in 1991. New York follows: a 9/11 commemoration before the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. Then Charles and Camilla will head to rural Virginia, where the King will discuss conservation with an Indigenous community.
British foreign secretary talks about 'strong' US-UK relationship
23:45 , Rachel DobkinBritish Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, who is also currently in Washington, D.C., has talked about the “special” US-UK relationship that has apparently become strained during the Iran war.
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper Monday evening Eastern Time, Cooper was asked about President Donald Trump’s criticisms of the UK over its refusal to directly get involved in the Iran war, amid other issues.
“When you've got a strong relationship, the depth, richness of the one that we have going back so many years, of course, there are always going to be things that we disagree about and things that we agree about”, the foreign secretary said. “There will be things where we take different views, but also things where we work immensely closely together”.
What's on the garden party menu?
23:29 , Rachel DobkinSeveral British delicacies are on the menu for a garden party at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., Monday.
The afternoon tea service will include several sandwiches:
- Scottish smoked salmon, lemon and black pepper sandwiches
- Roasted British beef and horseradish sandwiches
- West Country cheddar and fig sandwiches
- Cucumber and dill sandwiches
Aged cheddar and chive quiche and tomato, basil, cucumber and olive tarts will also be served.
There will also be several sweet treats for the party to celebrate King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit:
- Scones with strawberries and Devonshire clotted cream
- Bakewell tart
- Ginger cake
- Victoria sponge
- Traditional fruit cake
- Raspberry, white chocolate and lemon cake
In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla greet guests at garden party
23:23 , Rachel Dobkin
British Embassy shares video about garden party preparations
23:10 , Rachel DobkinThe British Embassy in Washington, D.C., has given an inside look at the preparations for its garden party.
The embassy is hosting more than 600 guests, including King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Behind the scenes in the Embassy kitchen. 👑🫖
Chef is preparing afternoon tea for 650 guests, including Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Four kinds of tea sandwiches, scones, desserts, and several British flavours from smoked Scottish salmon to British Beef!… pic.twitter.com/sSrtsNZ9cj
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at garden party
22:49 , Rachel DobkinKing Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at a garden party at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C.
In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla shown new White House beehive
22:32 , Rachel Dobkin
In pictures: King Charles and Queen Camilla have tea with the Trumps
22:10 , Rachel Dobkin
Watch: Donald Trump and Melania welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House
22:00 , Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump and Melania welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to the White House
In pictures: The Trumps greet King Charles and Queen Camilla
21:30 , Rachel Dobkin
King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted by Trump and Melania
21:23 , Rachel DobkinKing Charles and Queen Camilla have been greeted by US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
Charles and Camilla met the Trumps at the White House. Charles shook Trump’s hand, and Camilla embraced Melania.
LIVE: Donald Trump and Melania welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to White House
21:20 , Rachel DobkinUS State Department shares welcome video for King Charles and Queen Camilla
21:10 , Rachel DobkinWe walk together in majesty, in justice, and in peace. 🇺🇸🇬🇧 President Trump welcomes King Charles and Queen Camilla for a historic State Visit this week. pic.twitter.com/T50G0b7A5o
— Department of State (@StateDept) April 27, 2026
In pictures: White House to show off beehive to King Charles and Queen Camilla
20:50 , Rachel Dobkin
Watch: Queen Camilla gives special nod to UK-US relationship as monarch arrive in America
20:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Queen Camilla gives special nod to UK-US relationship as monarch arrive in America
King Charles and Queen disembark
19:56 , Maira ButtKing Charles and Queen Camilla have disembarked their plane on arrival for a historic state visit to the US.
In pictures: King Charles and Camilla land in US
19:45 , Maira Butt
Breaking: King Charles lands in US
19:36 , Maira ButtKing Charles has landed in the US for the start of his four-day state visit amid a tense security atmosphere after Donald Trump was targeted by a gunman.
Charles, joined by the Queen, touched down at the Joint Base Andrews air base in Maryland, a short distance from Washington, in the last few moments.
The royals are expected to head to the White House, where they will be welcomed by Donald and Melania Trump.
Analysis: Why the King’s visit to meet Trump is crucial for Starmer
19:30 , Bryony Gooch
Why the King’s visit to meet Trump is crucial for Starmer
Watch: Trump says King Charles will be 'very safe' on his US state visit
19:00 , Maira ButtWhen will King Charles meet Trump? Full schedule for US state visit
18:35 , Maira ButtKing Charles III and Camilla are visiting President Donald Trump from Monday as part of a historic state visit to the United States, which many hope will repair a weakening “special relationship”.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Sunday that the state visit was set to go ahead as planned following a shooting at the White House correspondents’ dinner. Gunshots were fired inside the Washington Hilton shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday night at the black tie gala, with Mr Trump and other cabinet officials being rushed to safety while guests took cover.
Here is what we know about the scheduled plans for the King and Queen in the United States.
Charles and Camilla are scheduled to be greeted by Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump at around 4.15pm local time (9pm BST) at the White House’s south portico. The heads of state will join together for a private afternoon tea in the Green Room on the state floor.
Secret Service security impacted by DHS funding freeze, says Karoline Leavitt
18:15 , Maira ButtWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said the “Democrats’ obstruction” of funding to the Department of Homeland Security is impacting the Secret Service’s capability to deal with threats.
She has said that the funding should be considered a “national scandal”.
Melania Trump has made all preparations for royal visit, says Leavitt
18:07 , Maira ButtFirst Lady Melania Trump has led all of the preparations relating to King Charles’ and Queen Camilla’s visit to the US this week.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt has returned from maternity leave earlier to deliver the press conference today.
She paid tribute to the “special relationship” between the US and UK.
White House press briefing to take place imminently
18:02 , Maira ButtWhite House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is due to speak at a briefing to press ahead of King Charles’ visit.
We will bring you the key updates. You can follow a live stream of the press conference below.
Mapped: Where King Charles will travel on the US state visit
17:30 , Bryony GoochSamuel Fishwick: Charles’s tricky task with Trump: Don’t mention the war – any war
17:00 , Bryony Gooch Charles’s tricky task with Trump: Don’t mention the war – any war
In pictures: Washington DC prepares for arrival of King Charles III
16:30 , Bryony Gooch
Green Party leader 'feels sorry for King' being sent to meet Trump
16:00 , Bryony GoochGreen Party leader Zack Polanski said he “felt sorry for the King” being sent to the US to meet president Donald Trump.
Speaking in Newcastle, Mr Polanski blamed the Prime Minister for putting the King in that position and said: “I actually feel really sorry for the King, that he’s been paraded around as some sort of privilege for Donald Trump.
“It’s important to put things in perspective. Just a couple of weeks ago, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, ‘An entire civilisation could be wiped out this evening, it doesn’t have to happen, but it probably could’.
“That’s not a man we should consider our ally or in a special relationship with. That’s a man we should be sanctioning and making sure that we’re condemning.
“And the fact this kind of awful parade of King Charles having to go there, why is Keir Starmer so obsequious to Donald Trump?
“Of course we should have a diplomatic relationship with the president, of course, we should talk to him on a whole range of things.
“But sending King Charles over there to meet him, as if he’s some sort of friend, or some sort of ally, will be difficult for a lot of British people to watch, and they’ll wonder why Keir Starmer, as with so many decisions, has made that decision.”
Behind the scenes: British Embassy prepares afternoon tea for 650 guests
15:55 , Bryony GoochAs King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to arrive in the United States later on today, the British Embassy in Washington is preparing afternoon tea for 650 guests.
Four kinds of tea sandwiches, scones and desserts will be served with flavours including smoked salmon from Scotland and British beef.
Behind the scenes in the Embassy kitchen. 👑🫖
— British Embassy Washington (@UKinUSA) April 27, 2026
Chef is preparing afternoon tea for 650 guests, including Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Four kinds of tea sandwiches, scones, desserts, and several British flavours from smoked Scottish salmon to British Beef!… pic.twitter.com/sSrtsNZ9cj
When will King Charles meet Trump? Full schedule for US state visit
15:30 , Bryony Gooch When will King Charles meet Trump? Full schedule for US state visit
In pictures: Washington DC wakes up as King Charles is set to visit
15:00 , Bryony Gooch
King Charles should pressure Trump to release all Epstein files, Democratic lawmaker says
14:30 , Bryony Gooch
King Charles should pressure Trump to release all Epstein files, lawmaker says
Epstein victims 'plan mock tea party' while King Charles visits US - report
14:00 , Bryony GoochVictims of Jeffrey Epstein plan to protest outside the White House during the King and Queen’s visit on Monday, according to The Times.
Rina Oh, assaulted by Epstein when she was 21, said she was planning a “performance arts piece” outside the White House, setting up an empty chair with a sign reading “reserved for King Charles”, the newspaper reported.
It comes after the family of Virginia Giuffre have renewed their calls for the King to meet with them during his upcoming state visit to the US, to “show unity with survivors”.
Family of Virginia Giuffre urge King to ‘show unity with survivors’
13:30 , Bryony GoochThe family of Virginia Giuffre have renewed their calls for the King to meet with them during his upcoming state visit to the US, to “show unity with survivors”.
Sky Roberts, Ms Giuffre’s brother, and Amanda Roberts, Ms Giuffre’s sister-in-law, had “strongly” urged Charles to meet with them – as well as survivors of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein – earlier this month.
Charles and the Queen are due to arrive in the US on Monday for a four-day visit during which they will meet President Donald Trump.
Read more here:
Family of Virginia Giuffre urge King to ‘show unity with survivors’
Recap: Ambassador Turner 'confident' their Majesties will have the best security throughout visit
13:00 , Bryony GoochUK ambassador to the USChristian Turner has said that he is confident the King and Queen will be safe throughout their stay in the United States.
He said on Sunday: “Our team has been in touch way through the night, and we'll be through the day to see whether the events of last night have any change in our operational planning.
“And I'm very confident that their Majesties will have the very best security throughout the visit.”
Analysis: 'A piece of pageantry with a security review attached'
12:51 , Bryony GoochRobert Jobson, royal correspondent in Washington DC, reports:
The King and Queen land in Washington today. The visit was always going to be politically difficult, because Britain and the Trump administration are at odds over Iran. It was meant to be a piece of pageantry, but it is now a piece of pageantry with a security review attached.
The Palace’s quiet “minor operational adjustments” will mean changes the cameras will not pick up. A route altered here, an engagement shortened there, a window of exposure trimmed. Royal protection officers, Scotland Yard’s quietest professionals, will be embedded with the Secret Service. They will study the corridors before they study the speeches. They will know where the second exit is, and the third. That is what they do.
In July last year, Queen Camilla was made an Honorary Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, in recognition of her work for literacy. The arrangements were faultless, and the principal was protected without anyone noticing she was being protected. That is what it looks like done well. The professionals are still there, on both sides of the Atlantic... but the system around them on Saturday was not.
The King and Queen will be looked after by people who think about the room before they think about anything else. They are very good at what they do, but they should not have to be this good. Not in the capital of the oldest continuous republic in the world, and not in 2026.
Minister casts doubt on King Charles’ public walkabout during US state visit after White House press dinner shooting
12:30 , Bryony Gooch
Minister casts doubt on King’s public walkabout during US state visit after shooting
Watch: Stop Trump Coalition protest against King's US state visit
12:00 , Bryony GoochAnalysis: Why the King’s soft power will be more important than ever in wake of shooting
11:30 , Bryony Gooch Why the king’s soft power will be more important than ever in wake of shooting
Watch: Washington DC prepares for King's arrival
11:00 , Bryony GoochStop Trump Coalition: US state visit a 'slap in the face' to those struggling from cost of living
10:30 , Bryony GoochA spokesperson for the Stop Trump Coalition has called the US state visit a national embarrassment, criticising the US president’s war in Iran and how it’s driving up prices in the UK.
Jake Atkinson said: “Keir Starmer sending the King to wine and dine with the warmonger-in-chief signals we are happy to green-light Trump’s illegal actions around the world, no matter how much chaos they cause.
“Ordinary people across the UK are struggling more and more with the cost of living whilst Trump’s war on Iran has driven up prices. Honouring Trump like this is a slap in the face to so many who are struggling, and suggests to the President he can continue violating international law and be rewarded with more pageantry,” he added.
The Stop Trump Coalition staged a mock state visit this morning with people in giant masks of King Charles and President Trump holding a giant prop missile with ‘COMPLICIT’ written across it.
“Being joined at the hip to Trump’s US is not just making us complicit in war crimes, but hurting the British people. From teaming up with Big Pharma to hike our medicines prices to pressuring us to drop our Digital Services Tax on the biggest tech companies, Donald Trump wants to extract as much as he can from us for the benefit of the super rich and mega-corporations in the US.
“The King’s refusal to meet with Epstein victims further reinforces that this visit is not to the benefit of anyone but Trump and the political elites. It should never have gone ahead.”
Hugo Vickers: Charles is the only person in Britain who can calm Trump down
10:15 , Bryony Gooch
As Trump lashes out at the UK, only the King can pour oil on troubled waters
Watch: Trump says King Charles will be 'very safe' on his US state visit
10:00 , Bryony GoochEmily Thornberry: 'I still remain anxious' about King's US state visit
09:43 , Bryony GoochDame Emily Thornberry, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, has said she is “anxious” ahead of the King’s US state visit.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I still remain anxious about this, and I don’t think I’m really alone.
“It is a really high-wire act, and the (US) president is so unpredictable, we just don’t know what he’s going to say.”
Dame Emily said that “if anybody can pull it off, it is the King”, adding he was “up for the challenge”.
But talking about “potential problems”, she said: “There are a number of things that we’re at loggerheads on here, whether it’s Nato, Ukraine, Greenland, Chagos, the Falklands, the things he’s said about our armed forces, immigration, renewables, controlling social media.”
Mapped: Where King Charles will travel on the US state visit
09:35 , Bryony GoochMajor milestones marked in the King's state visit
09:20 , Bryony GoochThe historic visit, the King’s first visit to the US as monarch, will herald the start of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which came after forces led by George Washington defeated Charles’ forebear King George III’s army.
Melania Trump has led the preparations for the state visit to commemorate a number of milestones in US history. Highlights include Charles’ address to both houses of Congress and the royal couple commemorating the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that brought down New York’s Twin Towers.
Analysis: Why those who wanted to cancel the state visit were wrong
09:12 , Bryony GoochDavid Maddox, The Independent’s political editor, explains:
The reason why all those like Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey were wrong about wanting to cancel King Charles’ state visit to the US this week is because it fundamentally misunderstands the role of the Royal family.
Sir Ed and a number of Labour MPs who were demanding the whole thing was scrapped because of Donald Trump’s policies and language directed at the UK and Sir Keir Starmer see the King going purely in terms of being an honour for the US president.
While this is true the far more important role is that Royal visits are the high point of UK foreign policy - in effect the King and Royal family are an extension of the diplomatic service in the Foreign Office.
So his arrival in the US this week to mark the 250th anniversary of it leaving the British Empire is not just significant and important but pivotal for healing a damaged special relationship between Britain and its most important ally.
President Trump reveres the Royal family and considers himself as a friend of King Charles who he has a huge amount of respect for. It offers the King a chance to use his own finely tuned skills as a diplomat built up over decades of public service to get the point of view over of His Majesty’s government and the interests of this country as well as some of his other realms like the Falkland Islands.
This in many ways is the best last chance to fix the most important alliance in the world while President Trump is still in the White House. Conversely, cancelling this week’s trip would have been a diplomatic disaster because it would have been taken as the worst kind of insult directed to a US President who does not take insults lying down.
We need to remember that the King has already been deployed to great effect by the Starmer government in terms of Trump’s own state visit to the UK last year which helped land a trade deal.
But beyond that the wider Royal family, in particular Prince William, who regularly speaks to Trump, have been at the heart of trying to keep a handle on this most turbulent of presidents.
In pictures: Stop Trump coalition protest state visit outside Buckingham Palace
09:00 , Bryony Gooch
What's on the agenda for day one of King Charles' historic US state visit?
08:43 , Bryony GoochKing Charles will arrive in the US this on Monday. It’s unclear just what time he’s set to arrive with the Queen, but he is expected to land in what will be the evening UK time.
He will be welcomed by President Trump and first lady Melania Trump; they are set to have a private afternoon tea as well as a tour of the White House’s new bee hives, nestled on the South Lawn.
They will later attend a garden party featuring guests that represent the connection between the US and the UK.
Inside the secret plots being designed to make the King’s US visit the most awkward in royal history
08:34 , Bryony Gooch
Inside the secret plots being designed to cause the King embarassment during US visit
Trump ‘not worried’ during attack by gunman at Washington black-tie dinner
08:28 , Bryony GoochDonald Trump has said he was “not worried” during an armed attack on an event he was attending, which sparked security concerns over the King’s state visit.
The US president told CBS News that “we live in a crazy world” as he was asked about the chaotic scenes when a gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night.
He also described the suspected assailant as a “pretty sick guy”.
Mr Trump, his wife and other senior members of the administration were bundled to safety by Secret Service agents as guests took cover under tables in the ballroom of the Washington Hilton after shots were fired nearby.
One officer was hit but was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to make a full recovery.
Despite the shooting, a planned royal visit by Charles and Camilla to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence is going ahead following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic.
Government refuses to confirm whether King's public walkabout will go ahead in US
08:17 , Daniel Haygarth
Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
A government minister could not confirm if the King's planned public walkabout on his state visit to the US would go ahead.
It comes after it emerged that his security was being reviewed following an attempted attack on Donald Trump at a dinner in Washington on Saturday night.
Asked about the walkabout, Emma Reynolds told Times Radio: "I can't comment specifically on the security provisions.
“But what I will say is that every measure is taken to protect the King and the Queen. And they will obviously have looked very carefully at the events of the weekend, which were very, very concerning.
"But every measure will be taken. The King's security is something that is planned and they schedule weeks and months in advance. But obviously, they will be looking at what happened over the weekend."
'Every measure will be taken to protect the King' in Washington, minister says
08:10 , Dan HaygarthPolitical correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
"Every measure will be taken to protect the King and the Queen" in Washington, a government minister has said, adding that "it is right" that the pair will be proceeding with the planned state visit despite Saturday's attempted attack.
Emma Reynolds told Sky News: "Obviously every measure will be taken to protect the King and the Queen.
“And obviously, our security services work very closely with the American security services and in normal business as well, and every measure will be taken to protect him."
King and Queen to have tea at the White House this evening, reports say
08:08 , Dan HaygarthCharles and Camilla have tea with the US president and first lady Melania Trump at the White House from 9:15 p.m UK time, according to Politico.
The Trumps will then take and King and Queen on a tour, including the White House’s new beehive.
'All appropriate security measures' in place for visit, ambassador says
07:52 , Dan HaygarthThe King’s US state visit has “all appropriate security measures” in place, Britain’s ambassador to the US has said following what the White House has called an attempted assassination of president Donald Trump.
Sir Christopher Turner said UK and US security teams had been planning the trip for weeks before the incident at the media dinner, with changes possible “as we go”.
Sir Christopher, who replaced Peter Mandelson following his sacking over new revelations about his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, said: “The real point is that our respective security teams have been in close touch for weeks.
“And any operational changes we have to make, we can make them as we go, and we are all very confident that all appropriate security measures are in place.”
Security teams in the UK and US worked through the night assessing the state visit after the president was endangered when shots were fired outside the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner on Saturday evening in Washington.
Charles and Camilla will arrive in Washington on Monday for a four-day visit aimed at marking the 250th anniversary of American independence and strengthening the special UK-US relationship, which has been under strain in recent months.
King's state visit to go ahead as planned
07:49 , Dan HaygarthThe King’s US state visit will go ahead as planned after what the White House has called the attempted assassination of president Donald Trump.
Charles and Camilla’s security arrangements were discussed in the wake of Saturday’s violent incident at a Washington media dinner where Mr Trump, the first lady and senior figures from his administration were bundled from the room by the secret service after shots were fired.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned.
“The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow [Monday].”
It is understood there will be some modest operational adjustments to one or two royal engagements during the trip but the overall plan remains as previously outlined.
Read the full story:
King’s US state visit will go ahead as planned after Washington shooting
