King Charles III will visit the United States at the end of April, at the invitation of President Donald Trump, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, confirmed the Palace of Buckingham.
The visit, which will be accompanied by Queen Camilla, will also include a stop in Bermuda, marking the monarch’s first official visit to a British overseas territory.
The official statement said: “The program of Their Majesties will celebrate the historical ties and modern bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American independence,” without specifying exact dates.
As Prince of Wales, Charles visited the U.S. 19 times, while his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits in 1957, 1976, 1991, and 2007.
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According to Politico, King Charles is expected to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress during the week of April 27.
The announcement comes amid controversy, as some British lawmakers have suggested postponing the visit due to the ongoing Middle East conflict following the U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran on February 28.
- Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, urged cancellation to protest what he called Trump’s “illegal war” in Iran.
- Emily Thornberry, chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, suggested it might be “safer to delay” to avoid an awkward situation for the King and Queen.
A YouGov poll shows 49% of Britons believe the King should not make the trip, while 33% support it.
The visit follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s September visit to London, reinforcing ongoing U.K.–U.S. diplomatic ties.