King Charles arrives in US for state visit amid Iran war tensions

WASHINGTON: Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday afternoon for a four-day state visit that has taken on added significance amid tensions between London and Washington and after the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

The visit is being described as the most prominent and consequential overseas trip of Charles’ reign. It coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States’ declaration of independence from British rule and marks the first visit to the country by a British monarch in two decades.

Charles and Camilla landed at Joint Base Andrews at about 2:30 p.m. ET (1830 GMT). They were received by diplomatic, state and federal officials, along with senior members of the British embassy. The royal couple also accepted flowers from children of British military families stationed in the United States.

The king, dressed in a navy suit, and the queen, wearing a pink dress, stood on the tarmac as a military band played the national anthems of Britain and the United States. They then left for the White House for a private meeting with President Donald Trump, who has described himself as a royal fan.

High-profile programme

The schedule for the week includes an address to Congress, a state dinner at the White House and a visit to New York City.

The trip had been planned well in advance, but it has now become entangled in a political dispute between the two allies over the US-Israeli war on Iran. Trump has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the British government for not backing the offensive.

The visit has also been overshadowed by the shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington. US officials have said the president and members of his administration were the likely targets.

Those developments have added to the sensitivity surrounding a visit that was already expected to carry diplomatic weight because of its symbolism and timing.

The state visit is the first by a British monarch to the United States in 20 years and comes at a moment when the relationship between the two close allies is under strain. Against that backdrop, the royal tour is unfolding under heightened political and security attention.

Despite the tensions, the programme remains centred on ceremonial and official engagements, including the White House meeting, the congressional address and the formal dinner, all of which underscore the importance attached to the visit by both sides.