King Charles arrives in US for trip overshadowed by Iran quarrel and shooting

By Suzanne Plunkett

The state visit, by far the most high-profile and consequential of Charles’ reign, marks the 250th anniversary of the U.S. declaration of independence from British rule, and is the first to the country by a British monarch for two decades.

Charles and Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews around 2:30 p.m. ET (1830 GMT), where they were greeted by diplomatic, state and federal officials as well as senior members of the British embassy and accepted flowers from the children of British military families stationed in the U.S.

The king, sporting a navy suit, and the queen, wearing a pink dress, stood on the tarmac while a military band played the British and U.S. national anthems, before they headed to the White House for a private meeting with self-proclaimed royal fan President Donald Trump.

The week’s schedule also includes an address to Congress, a lavish state dinner at the White House and a stop in New York City.

PRESS DINNER SHOOTING JUST DAYS BEFORE VISIT

The long-planned visit has become enmeshed in a political spat between the two countries over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which led Trump to voice deep displeasure with the British government for failing to support the offensive.

The shooting on Saturday at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in Washington, where U.S. officials have said the president and members of his administration were the likely targets, has cast a further pall over the visit.

Buckingham Palace said the trip would still go ahead as planned following discussions between British and U.S. authorities to determine if the incident would impact the royals’ plans.

“The king and queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case and are looking forward to the visit getting underway tomorrow,” a palace spokesperson said on Sunday.

TRUMP HAS CRITICISED UK OVER IRAN STANCE

On arriving in Washington, the king and queen have a private tea with the president, an unabashed lover of the British royal family who regularly describes Charles as a “great man”, and his wife, first lady Melania Trump.

The 77-year-old king, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, will address Congress the next day – just the second time a British monarch has done so.

The royals will then head on to New York where they will commemorate those killed in the September 11, 2001, attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary, while the queen will also mark the centenary of children’s stories featuring Winnie the Pooh.

The U.S. trip concludes in Virginia with the king meeting those involved in conservation work, a nod to his half-century of environmental campaigning.

The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping the visit will shore up the future of the two allies’ “special relationship”, which is at its lowest point since the Suez Crisis in 1956.

Britain’s ambassador to the U.S., Christian Turner, said the visit would underscore the shared history, sacrifice and common values between the two countries, adding that the approach would be a very British one: “Keep calm, carry on.”

While Trump has eased his criticism of Britain in recent days over its response to the Iran war, an internal Pentagon email set out how the U.S. could review its position on Britain’s claim to the Falkland Islands as punishment for its lack of support, further straining ties.

One issue off the table during the visit is the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Royal sources have said it was not possible for the royal couple to meet any victims of Epstein during the tour, as some have requested, to avoid impacting any potential criminal cases.

Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose reputation and royal standing have been destroyed over his links to the late U.S. sex offender, is currently facing police inquiries over his connections. The former Prince Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Suzanne Plunkett in Washington and Michael Holden in London; Editing by Scott Malone and Nia Williams)