King Charles gives speech to Congress amid tensions over Iran war

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Apr 28, 2026

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King Charles III kicked off a pomp-filled visit to the U.S. on Wednesday that has been warmly welcomed by President Donald Trump and is aimed at bolstering the “special relationship” between the two nations even amid tensions over the Iran war.

Embracing the extensive formal ceremonial trappings of a state visit, the British monarch held cordial meetings with Trump and other leaders and made a rare joint address to Congress emphasizing that the nations’ bond is so strong it can withstand any short-term tumult.

“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal,” Charles told cheering lawmakers. “lt is irreplaceable and unbreakable.”

“That partnership is more important today than it has ever been,” he added.

He paid tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks ahead of a planned Ground Zero ceremony Wednesday and reminded Americans that Britain and other NATO nations joined the military response that followed.

“We stood with you then and we stand with you now in remembrance of a day that will never be forgotten,” Charles said.

Charles did not mention the dispute over the Iran war.

But he pointedly mentioned “disastrous” climate change, Britain’s increased commitment to defense — a key demand of allies from Trump — along with support for Ukraine’s fight repel the Russian invasion, which some pro-Trump Republicans oppose.

He warned against falling to the thrall of voices calling for isolationism, which could also be read as a dig at far right-wing movements in Europe and America.

“On your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other,” he said.

A beaming Trump, who skipped the speech due to traditional protocol, made no secret that he was basking in the historic nature of the event.

“American patriots today can sing, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,’ only because our colonial ancestors first sang, ‘God save the King,’” Trump said as he welcomed Charles, flanked by their wives.

“Americans have had no closer friends than the British,” Trump added.

Charles is only the second British monarch to address Congress. His late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was the first, in 1991.

The speech marks the most extensive public remarks Charles will deliver during a four-day visit to the U.S. that’s intended to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.

The king, accompanied by Queen Camilla, began his day with a meeting at the White House with Trump, which came after the royals were greeted by the Trumps on a rainy day that the American leader joked would likely make the British couple feel at home.

The Oval Office meeting was closed to the public, but Trump suggested there was none of the drama that marred some of his similar meetings with heads of states.

The visit comes at a challenging moment for ties between the two nations, mostly driven by Trump’s efforts to reshape geopolitics and notably the war against Iran that he launched with Israel, without the involvement or support of the U.K. or other Western allies.

In an embarrassing scoop, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday that the British ambassador to the U.S., Sir Christian Turner, recently told a private gathering that the only nation with which the U.S. has a “special relationship” is “probably Israel.”

Trump’s once-warm relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has turned sour over the past several months as Trump has demanded international support for the war in Iran even though he made no effort to gain their buy-in before launching the attacks.

Trump has also imposed tariffs on the U.K. as part of his aggressive effort to reshape trade with allies and rivals alike.

Trump has more broadly challenged the traditional trans-Atlantic alliance with efforts to annex Greenland and threats to walk away from NATO.

Meanwhile, Charles has faced scattered calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the U.S.

He’s not expected to do that or even mention the sex-trafficking scandal even though it has has ensnared his own brother. The former Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal titles and arrested last winter over Epstein-related misconduct allegations, which he denies.