King Charles to visit US as UK seeks to ease tensions with Trump

LONDON: Britain’s King King Charles III will undertake a state visit to the United States in late April, Buckingham Palace said on Tuesday, in a high-profile trip aimed at easing strained ties between Washington and London amid growing geopolitical tensions.

The visit, which comes on the advice of the British government, is part of a long-planned programme marking the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence. The king will be accompanied by Queen Camilla, with an additional visit scheduled to Bermuda after the U.S. trip.

According to Buckingham Palace, the visit will “celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship” between the United Kingdom and the United States. It will be the first state visit by a British monarch to the U.S. since 2007.

The timing of the visit is seen as significant, as relations between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump have come under strain over differences regarding the ongoing Iran conflict and broader regional security issues.

Trump has repeatedly criticised the British government’s position on the Iran war, including its refusal to allow the use of British bases for initial U.S. strikes, though some defensive operations have since been permitted.

Despite tensions, Trump said he looks forward to the visit and expressed respect for the king. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!” he wrote on social media platform Truth Social.

The state visit will begin on April 27, with a banquet dinner at the White House the following day, according to Trump’s remarks.

The visit comes as Britain seeks to use the monarchy’s “soft power” to stabilise relations with the United States. King Charles has previously hosted Trump for a state visit in Britain, during which the U.S. president praised the “special relationship” between the two countries.

However, the king’s trip also places him in a delicate position, as he will be required to engage diplomatically with a U.S. president who remains unpopular among many Britons, according to opinion polls.

The visit is also expected to highlight differences in policy views, particularly on climate change, an issue on which King Charles has been a long-time advocate, while Trump has taken a contrasting position.

The trip comes at a time when Britain is also navigating broader diplomatic and domestic pressures, including debates over foreign policy, military cooperation and trade, as well as ongoing regional conflicts that have impacted global markets and energy supplies.

Analysts say the visit will test the monarchy’s traditional diplomatic role as Britain attempts to balance its relationship with Washington while managing internal political and public sentiment.