King Charles to address U.S. Congress on April 28
Source: reuters.com
TL;DR
- Britain's King Charles will address a joint meeting of U.S. Congress on April 28 during his state visit to Washington.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the invitation alongside Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.[[1]](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-king-charles-address-us-congress-april-28-2026-04-01)[[2]](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/king-charles-iii-to-address-congress-on-april-28)
- The speech marks the 250th anniversary of American independence and reaffirms UK-U.S. ties amid current tensions.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd8nkezdyxo)
The story at a glance
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Britain's King Charles will address U.S. Congress on April 28 as part of a state visit with Queen Camilla from April 27-30. The bipartisan invitation from top congressional leaders aims to celebrate shared heritage ahead of the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence from Britain. This comes amid strained UK-U.S. relations over the Iran war and President Trump's criticisms of Britain.[[1]](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-king-charles-address-us-congress-april-28-2026-04-01)[[4]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/world/europe/king-charles-state-visit-trump.html)
Key points
- King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit includes meetings with President Donald Trump and a White House banquet on April 28 evening.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd8nkezdyxo)
- The address, the first by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991, highlights the "enduring special relationship" between the UK and U.S.[[5]](https://apnews.com/hub/king-charles-iii)
- Congressional leaders wrote that the event offers a chance to "share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance."[[2]](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/king-charles-iii-to-address-congress-on-april-28)
- The trip follows Buckingham Palace's confirmation of a late April state visit, long-planned to mark the U.S. independence anniversary.[[6]](https://apnews.com/article/britain-king-charles-state-visit-us-bermuda-be6ada2db122108b6c380c62b641308f)
- No plans for King Charles to meet son Prince Harry, who lives in California, during the tightly packed East Coast schedule.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd8nkezdyxo)
Details and context
The announcement follows President Trump's social media post specifying the visit dates as April 27-30, calling it "TERRIFIC!" with a White House banquet.[[3]](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd8nkezdyxo) This occurs against tensions from Britain's reluctance to back U.S. strikes in the Iran war, with Trump criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer.[[4]](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/world/europe/king-charles-state-visit-trump.html)
Queen Elizabeth II was the first reigning British monarch to address Congress in 1991; Charles spoke there as Prince of Wales in 1981.[[7]](https://www.facebook.com/RockawayPrimetimeReporting/videos/king-charles/1732080144833559) The palace frames the trip as celebrating close ties despite calls in Britain to delay it over the Iran conflict.[[8]](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/31/king-charles-state-visit-to-us-to-go-ahead-buckingham-palace-confirms)
After the U.S., the royals will visit Bermuda.[[6]](https://apnews.com/article/britain-king-charles-state-visit-us-bermuda-be6ada2db122108b6c380c62b641308f)
Key quotes
"We believe an Address to Congress will provide a unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history." – Letter from congressional leaders to King Charles.[[2]](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/king-charles-iii-to-address-congress-on-april-28)
Why it matters
The address symbolizes enduring UK-U.S. alliance at a time of friction over Iran policy and transatlantic security. It underscores ceremonial diplomacy's role for businesses, investors, and policymakers relying on stable bilateral trade and defense links. Watch for the speech content on April 28 and any side developments during the visit, though full outcomes depend on private talks.