Washington, April 28, (PA Media/dpa/GNA) – Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, were officially welcomed on Tuesday to the United States, with an unprecedented military ceremony on the lawns of the White House.
Charles and Camilla watched the display with their hosts, US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, alongside a group of invited dignitaries and hundreds of spectators.
The royal couple arrived in Washington on Monday for the start of a four-day state visit, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The king and US president had tea with their wives at the White House, soon after the royals arrived, and an image from the meeting showed the two men engrossed in conversation.
With the special relationship between the United Kingdom and US tested in recent months, following a war of words between Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the conflict in Iran, officials in Starmer’s Downing Street office will be hoping the royal family’s soft power diplomacy can help heal the rift.
Later, the king will tell Congress the story of the UK and US since America’s independence is “one of the greatest alliances in human history” where the two nations find ways to “come together.”
During the welcome ceremony, the king and queen stood on a dais with the president and first lady, as the UK and US national anthems were played by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.
Nearby, a 21-gun salute was fired in tribute to the royal guests by the Presidential Salute Battery.
Senior members of Trump’s administration were among the guests, including Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions.
A large number of military units took place in the ceremonial welcome from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to the United States Space Force Honour Guard who performed in the rain, which stopped before the royals arrived.
Before the event began and the royal party appeared, the crowds were entertained by precision marching and playing by the Drum and Bugle Corps, including the United States Marin Drum and Bugle Corps and the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
The ceremonial welcome had elements that were familiar to the king as he was asked to inspect the troops on parade, an honour performed when heads of state visit the UK.
Charles walked with Trump past the troops, representing a number of services.
The United States Marine Band played the national anthems as the king strode along the line of military personnel, and concluded with the “Stars And Stripes Forever” march by John Philip Sousa.
GNA