King Charles III will travel to the United States in late April for a state visit, in a move seen as an effort by the UK government to ease tensions with Donald Trump.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the king and Queen Camilla will visit as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, before continuing on to Bermuda. The trip, scheduled to begin on April 27, will include a state banquet at the White House.
The visit comes at a delicate moment for UK-US relations, which have been strained by disagreements over the ongoing Iran war. Keir Starmer has resisted deeper military involvement and initially refused to allow the use of British bases for US strikes, drawing criticism from Washington.
Despite tensions, Trump has expressed admiration for the monarch and welcomed the visit, calling it "terrific" and highlighting what he described as a strong personal relationship.
The British government is expected to rely on the monarchy's diplomatic "soft power" to stabilise ties, placing Charles in a sensitive position as he navigates political differences while maintaining the traditional neutrality of the crown.