Buckingham Palace announced King Charles and Queen Camilla will make a high-profile visit to the United States. This will be the first state visit by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 2007.
“On advice of His Majesty’s Government, and at the invitation of the President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America,” the palace announced via Instagram on March 31. “Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the UK and the US, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence.”
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See all the details and what’s planned for the historic trip below.
When Is King Charles’ US State Visit?
President Donald Trump, who is known to be fond of the royal family, confirmed Charles and Camilla’s visit will take place from April 27 to 30, 2026.
“I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after the palace’s announcement, PBS reported. “It will be TERRIFIC!”
Charles and Camilla’s trip follows Trump’s second state visit to the U.K. in September 2025.
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What Is the Purpose of Charles’ State Visit?
Charles and Camilla are visiting to honor and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The monarch’s visit also comes amid growing tensions between the US and Great Britain. Trump has publicly butted heads with Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the country’s reluctance to get involved in the Iran war and its refusal to let the US use U.K. bases to launch initial attacks, per Reuters. Starmer, a former human rights attorney, has been outwardly critical of Trump’s attacks in the Middle East and pointed to climbing energy prices due to Iran’s closing of oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Even as Charles and Camilla’s state visit was being announced, Trump singled out the U.K. on social media.
“All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on March 31.
Starmer hopes Charles’ visit can help ease tensions. Prince William is also expected to visit the U.S. in the summer during the soccer World Cup.
Why Are There Calls to Cancel the Visit?
In March, a growing number of U.K. lawmakers began questioning whether Charles should visit the US after Trump began insulting Britain, saying Starmer is “not Winston Churchill” and the country was no longer “the Rolls-Royce of allies.”
Labour member of parliament Emily Thornberry suggested on March 17 that the trip be delayed, saying, per CNN, “The last thing that we want to do is have His Majesty … embarrassed.”
Ed Davey, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, said on March 31 that Starmer had shown “a staggering lack of backbone” by allowing the state visit to go ahead, and it was a “sign of a government too weak to stand up to bullies.”
English journalist David Dimbleby called the visit “an acute embarrassment,” per The Guardian, and several online petitions have popped up urging the cancellation of the trip.
What Is on King Charles’ Itinerary?
Charles’ full itinerary has not yet been shared, but Trump confirmed there would be a state banquet dinner at the White House on April 28.
Charles has visited the United States a total of 19 times, but this will be his first state visit to the country since becoming the reigning monarch. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, made four state visits to the US during her 70-year reign.
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After his and Camilla’s time in Washington, D.C., they will continue to Bermuda for Charles’ first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.
Will King Charles See Prince Harry?
Charles and his youngest son, Prince Harry, are not expected to reunite during the monarch’s trip stateside, a source told People.
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“When you’re talking about a state visit, every minute is accounted for — especially when it’s the King traveling as the invited guest of a head of state,” the source said in an article published on March 31. “Harry knows how things are and wouldn’t ask for that either under these circumstances.”
