Arabic version: الملك تشارلز والملكة كاميلا يبدأان زيارة دولة تاريخية إلى الولايات المتحدة

Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived in the United States for a four-day trip, a tour that has taken on even greater prominence after the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner shooting. This marks the first visit to the country by a British monarch for two decades. According to Al Jazeera, the visit is particularly notable following recent events.

The royal couple landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland around 2:30 PM local time, where they were welcomed by various officials and received flowers from children of British military families stationed in the US. Following a ceremonial greeting featuring military honors, the couple proceeded to the White House for a private meeting with President Donald Trump, who has expressed admiration for the British royal family.

This visit comes at a time of political tension between the US and UK, particularly regarding the US-Israel war on Iran. President Trump has openly criticized the British government for its stance on the matter, which has added complexity to the royal visit. Despite these tensions, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the trip would continue as planned, expressing relief that the president and all guests were unharmed after the recent shooting incident.

King Charles is set to address Congress, becoming only the second British monarch to do so. The itinerary also includes a lavish state dinner at the White House and a visit to New York City, where the royals will pay tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks ahead of the 25th anniversary. The visit aims to strengthen the historically significant relationship between the two nations, which is currently viewed as strained. Ambassador Christian Turner emphasized the shared values and history that underpin the US-UK relationship.

The visit will conclude in Virginia, where King Charles will meet individuals involved in conservation efforts, reflecting his long-standing commitment to environmental issues. Notably, discussions around the scandal involving convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will not be part of the agenda, as the royal couple will not meet any victims during their tour to avoid complicating ongoing legal matters.