This is a summary of the speech delivered by King Charles III of the United Kingdom before the U.S. Congress on April 28, as well as his remarks at the State Dinner hosted by President Donald Trump.
Charles III’s address to Congress is only the second of its kind in history. The first was delivered by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in the United States on Monday. This is the first State Visit by a British monarch to the United States since 2007. It comes amid a crisis in relations between London and Washington, partly due to the United Kingdom’s refusal to support the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.
The speaker’s remarks may sometimes be rephrased and edited for clarity. The context and meaning are fully preserved. The full text of the speech to Congress in English is available here, and the King’s remarks at the banquet — here.
Speech to Congress: Unity, Ukraine, and the Weight of Words
Opening his address with a quote from Oscar Wilde that Britain and America “have everything in common except, of course, language”, Charles III quickly turned to weightier matters. The world, he said, is living through “a time of great uncertainty,” with conflicts stretching from Europe to the Middle East posing enormous challenges.
The King stressed that the Anglo-American alliance, built over centuries, is more important today than ever before. But he issued a warning: this partnership cannot be taken for granted. “In this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rely solely on past achievements,” he declared.
Charles invoked the defining moments when the two nations stood side by side: through two World Wars, the Cold War, and the aftermath of September 11. That same “unwavering resolve,” he argued, must be shown today to defend Ukraine and secure “a just and lasting peace.”
He also spoke directly to America’s role in the world. “America’s words carry weight and meaning. Its actions carry even more,” he concluded, urging against yielding to the “loud calls to turn ever more inward.”
Dinner at Trump’s: British Wit at the White House
At the State Dinner, after thanking his hosts for their hospitality and noting that his first visit to the United States took place more than fifty years ago, the King could not resist commenting on the changes to the White House’s interior. “I must, regrettably, admit that we British once attempted our own renovation project — in 1814,” he said, alluding to the burning of the White House by British troops.
He also delivered a sharp comeback to Trump’s recent remark that without the United States, Europeans would be speaking German. “I dare say that without us, you would be speaking French,” Charles retorted, swiftly adding that they both “have great affection for our French cousins.”
On a more earnest note, he returned to the theme of America’s role in rebuilding postwar Europe: “American leadership helped restore a devastated Europe. We will never forget that, especially now, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
