King Charles urged the US and the UK to ignore domestic pressure to “become ever more inward-looking” as the British monarch defended the transatlantic relationship in a landmark speech to Congress on Tuesday.
In sweeping remarks, the King traced the historic ties between the two nations including their role in the second world war and Britain’s participation in the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the shared legal tradition rooted in the Magna Carta.
“We answered the call together — as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulder to shoulder, through two world wars, the cold war, Afghanistan and moments that have defined our shared security,” he said.
King Charles’ speech came on the second day of a four-day visit to the US to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
After meeting Trump at the White House earlier on Tuesday, the King was set to be hosted by the US president for a State dinner. On Wednesday, Charles and Queen Camilla are due to travel to New York City.
The visit comes at a fraught moment in the relationship between the two countries as Trump has repeatedly lambasted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not doing more to assist in the US-Israeli war against Iran.
Trump, whose mother was born in Scotland, has a longstanding affection for the British monarchy and the visit has been seen by the UK government as a potential salve for the transatlantic relationship.
“She loved the royal family, and she loved [Queen Elizabeth II],” Trump said of his mother on Tuesday, adding that she had a “crush” on the young Charles.
The King’s speech, which was written by the British government, sought to cast historic disagreements between the UK and US, a former British colony, as a source of strength.
“Ours is a partnership born out of dispute, but no less strong for it,” the King said, underscoring the nations’ shared democratic, social and legal traditions. “When we have found that way to agree, what great change is brought about — not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples,” he said.
During his speech, the King referred to the attack at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner in Washington on Saturday night, which served as a disturbing backdrop to his visit and raised security concerns for the trip. “Such acts of violence will never succeed,” he said.
The King also made reference to victims of the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who had close ties to the business and political elite in the US and UK, including the King’s brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
“In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today,” he said.
A palace aide later acknowledged that this was an intentional reference to Epstein’s victims. “It was certainly in [King Charles’] mind to acknowledge victims of abuse, so they are naturally incorporated in this line,” the aide said.
The monarch’s call for “unyielding resolve” in the defence of Ukraine against Russian aggression was met with a standing ovation on both sides of the aisle.
As Trump has sought to dramatically reshape the global order and America’s role within it, the King closed his remarks by saying that he prayed that Britain’s alliance with the US would “continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world”.
“America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence,” he said. “The actions of this great nation matter even more.”