Image: from FRANCE 24 English X @France24_en
By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
LONDON — Buckingham Palace confirmed Tuesday that King Charles III will undertake a high-stakes state visit to the United States and Bermuda in late April. The announcement comes despite intensifying domestic pressure to cancel the trip due to the ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran and deteriorating relations between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The visit, scheduled for April 27–30, will mark the King’s first state visit to America since ascending the throne. While the trip is ostensibly intended to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, it has become a lightning rod for critics who argue that the British monarchy is being used to validate a controversial conflict.
The King confirmed his state visit to the U.S. on Tuesday, moments after Donald Trump insulted the UK on Truth Social. The U.S. administration continues to criticise the UK government over its refusal to offer more military support in Iran. @skydavidblevins reports ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IiIxXYSrMI
— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 31, 2026
Trump Welcomes “Terrific” Visit
President Trump, a vocal admirer of the British Royal Family, took to his Truth Social platform to express his enthusiasm. He confirmed the itinerary would include a “beautiful Banquet Dinner at the White House” on the evening of April 28.
“I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!” the President wrote.
The warmth from the Oval Office stands in sharp contrast to the President’s recent rhetoric regarding the British government. Trump has repeatedly disparaged Prime Minister Keir Starmer, mocking his “reticence” to fully commit UK forces to the war against Tehran. Earlier this month, Trump quipped, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with,” after Starmer initially blocked U.S. warplanes from using UK bases for strikes on Iran.
A Divided British Public
The decision to proceed with the visit has sparked a fierce debate in Westminster. A recent YouGov poll revealed that nearly half of British citizens oppose the trip, with only a third in favor.
Emily Thornberry, a senior Labour MP, suggested it would be “safer to delay” the visit to avoid potential embarrassment for the King and Queen Camilla amidst the volatile geopolitical climate. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey was more pointed, asking, “Why are we rewarding Donald Trump with a state visit from our king?”
However, proponents of the visit, including U.S. Envoy Warren Stephens, argue that the “soft power” of the monarchy is the last remaining bridge in the “Special Relationship.” Analysts note that King Charles previously helped smooth tensions last year by signing the formal invitation for Trump’s own state visit to the UK, an event the President later described as “beautiful.”
Diplomacy on the Brink
The diplomatic mission is complicated by Trump’s recent “America First” ultimatums. The President recently suggested that the UK should secure the Strait of Hormuz independently, stating, “The USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us.”
Following the four-day stint in Washington, the King will travel to Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory. This will be the first visit by a British monarch to the U.S. since Queen Elizabeth II’s address to Congress in 2007.
As the King prepares for the Atlantic crossing, the Palace faces the delicate task of maintaining traditional royal neutrality while the host nation remains embroiled in a major regional war and the British government navigates an increasingly fractured alliance.