Washington (United States) (AFP) – King Charles III called Tuesday 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 amid tensions over Iran and Ukraine. 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 US 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 citizens,” said Charles.
The menu for the lavish dinner included a garden vegetable veloute, spring herbed ravioli, and Dover sole meuniere, followed by a White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Cremeux. Invited guests included Apple boss Tim Cook, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and two-time Masters-winning golfer Rory McIlroy, who was born in Northern Ireland.
Earlier in Congress, Charles urged the United States on Tuesday 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 US national anthems, before Charles shook hands with top Trump administration officials and inspected troops on the lawn with the president.
Afterward, four US jets roared over the White House in a noisy flypast as Trump, Charles, Camilla, and First Lady Melania Trump watched. The visit comes at a delicate moment, with Trump criticizing Britain over its stance on Iran and other policies. Despite the tensions, the US president struck a jovial tone, joking about his Scottish-born mother having “a crush on Charles” ahead of talks in the Oval Office. “He’s a fantastic person. They’re incredible people and it’s a real honor,” Trump told reporters after the meeting, which took place behind closed doors.
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 US 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. Security has been tight during the visit following an alleged assassination attempt against Trump at a weekend Washington media gala. “Such acts of violence will never succeed,” Charles said.
The royal couple will attend a state dinner later on Tuesday, capping a visit that has mixed ceremony with sensitive diplomacy.
© 2024 AFP
