King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States Monday and made their way to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
It’s their first visit to America as monarchs and the trip is intended to highlight the relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It was unclear if the royal family would change its plans after Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, but Buckingham Palace said the king was relieved to hear everyone was unharmed. After additional security review of the visit, it will “proceed as planned,” The Associated Press reported.
Charles and Camilla exited their vehicle before the White House on Monday afternoon. They exchanged handshakes and hugs, posed for photos and entered the building.
After arriving at the White House, the four leaders are participating in a tea and beehive tour. The first lady recently unveiled the expansion of the White House honey program and installed a fully functioning beehive with new bee colonies.
The visit comes as tensions between the U.S. and U.K. are at a high point. Trump has repeatedly criticized some of the country’s closest allies, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, for not helping the war in Iran, and last month, he told the U.K. and others to “go get your own oil” because of the lack of aid in the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Buckingham Palace said the visit will “celebrate the historic connections and modern bilateral relationship” between the two countries. The royal family shared historic images online of previous visits the crown has taken to the United States, detailing the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
The royals’ trip is expected to last several days, and Trump previously confirmed that there would be a banquet dinner at the White House.
The visit follows Trump’s historic second visit to the U.K. last September, becoming the first president to be invited and hosted for two royal family state visits.
Charles will address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday after being invited by congressional leaders to speak to lawmakers because his U.S. trip provides a “unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history.”
Charles and Camilla are expected to go to New York on Tuesday after his remarks to honor the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and have a stop in Virginia, CBS News said. Per the BBC, they will not be making a West Coast visit to see Charles’ son, Prince Harry.
