King Charles III and Queen Camilla are making their first-ever state visit to the U.S., visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia.
The royals’ visit comes at a heightened time, following a shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and amid new strains between the U.K. and the U.S. over the war in Iran. It’s also happening under the shadow of Charles’ brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s connection to the ongoing Epstein scandal.
During the visit, Charles will deliver a rare joint address to Congress and there will be a state dinner at the White House.
Latest Developments
Apr 27, 6:41 PM
Charles, Camilla view White House beehive
Alex Brandon/AP – PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Britain’s King Charles III look at the White House garden and bee hive on the South Lawn of the White House, April 27, 2026, in Washington.
Charles and Camilla were shown the White House beehive by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during their visit Monday.
Videos shared on social media by a top White House aide show the president and first lady and the king and queen inspecting a new White House-shaped beehive that is part of an expansion announced by the first lady last week.
Two other beehives have been on the south grounds of the White House since 2009, according to The Associated Press.
Apr 27, 4:45 PM
Royals arrive at the White House
King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the White House. The king and queen were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on a red carpet outside the White House after landing at Joint Base Andrews earlier today.
The couples posed for photos briefly.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images – PHOTO: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Queen Camilla upon arrival at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.
Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters – PHOTO: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.
Apr 27, 3:30 PM
British Embassy shares behind-the-scenes garden party prep
The British Embassy shared a behind-the-scenes look on Monday at how it is preparing for a garden party welcoming Charles and Camilla to the U.S.
The garden party, hosted at the embassy residence in Washington, D.C., will include 650 guests who will snack on four types of tea sandwiches as well as scones and desserts.
The embassy’s head chef said the team is preparing nearly 3,000 tea sandwiches for the party.
Apr 27, 3:06 PM
The king and queen greet UK ambassador
Charles and Camilla were greeted by the U.K. ambassador and two children with posies as they deplaned on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.
Win McNamee/Getty Images – PHOTO: Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla disembark the plane on arrival for a state visit to the United States at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, April 27, 2026.
Apr 27, 2:43 PM
The king and queen arrive in the US
Their plane landed at Joint Base Andrews moments ago.
Win McNamee/Getty Images – PHOTO: A plane carrying King Charles III and Queen Camila taxis on day one of their State Visit to the United States, April 27, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Apr 27, 1:34 PM
A look back at King Charles’ trips to America
King Charles has visited the United States 19 times before but today will mark his first state visit as a monarch.
Charles’ first trip to the U.S. was in 1970 when the 21-year-old Prince of Wales traveled with his sister Princess Anne and were guests of the Nixons.
Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images – PHOTO: President Richard Nixon greets Prince Charles at the White House, July 18, 1970 in Washington.
Charles also traveled to Los Angeles in 1974 where he met and struck up a friendship with Barbra Streisand.
Mark Sennet/Getty Images – PHOTO: Prince Charles meets with singer Barbra Streisand at the Warner Bros. studio, March 19, 1974 in Los Angeles.
In 1985 Charles, accompanied by Princess Diana, met the Reagans at the White House. It was on this trip that Diana famously danced with John Travolta.
In 2005 Charles took Camilla to see the Bushes on their first official overseas trip since their marriage, and in 2015 the couple returned to the White House as guests of the Obamas.
This trip will have echoes of previous royal visits when Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited the United States in July 1976 for the 200th anniversary of American independence. More recently, in 1991 Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address Congress.
Apr 27, 12:42 PM
Will Epstein scandal linger over royals’ visit?
The royals’ visit to the U.S. comes amid the ongoing Jeffrey Epstein scandal that has rocked both sides of the Atlantic and directly entangled the royal family.
Charles’ younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following the emergence of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice’s files detailing communication between Mountbatten-Windsor and the late Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family have faced heckling at public events in the U.K. over the family’s handling of Andrew. Following his brother’s arrest, Charles said authorities have the palace’s “wholehearted support and cooperation,” adding, “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.”
The former prince has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and has not been charged.
Apr 27, 11:13 AM
Modest adjustments made to state visit after WHCD shooting
Royal sources told ABC News that following the shooting incident outside the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Saturday night in Washington, D.C., some modest operational adjustments were made to the royals’ engagements during their U.S. visit. The overall plan, however, remains the same.
Buckingham Palace confirmed Sunday that the royals’ visit would “proceed as planned.”
“Following discussions on both sides of the Atlantic through the day, and acting on advice of Government, we can confirm the State Visit by Their Majesties will proceed as planned,” the palace said in a statement. “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.”
Apr 27, 9:59 AM
Charles will not see Prince Harry during US visit
David Rose/POOL/AFP via Getty Images – PHOTO: Britain’s King Charles III walks with his son Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex as they arrive at St George’s Chapel inside Windsor Castle on September 19, 2022.
ABC News has confirmed that Charles will not see his California-based son, Prince Harry, while he is in the U.S.
The king will not see either of his grandchildren, Lilibet, 4, and Archie, who turns 7 next week.
Charles has not seen Archie and Lilibet — two of his five grandchildren — since 2022, when they traveled with Harry and his wife, Duchess Meghan, to the U.K. for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
The last time Charles and Harry met was a brief meeting in September 2025 at Clarence House in London. Harry has subsequently been back in the U.K. but has not seen his father.
Harry has lived in Montecito, California, since 2020, when he and Meghan stepped away from their senior royal roles.
Apr 27, 9:08 AM
Charles, Camilla to begin US state visit in Washington, DC
Charles and Camilla are scheduled to touch down in the U.S. Monday afternoon and head to the White House for tea with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.
There will also be a garden party held in their honor.
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