King Charles III addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday afternoon, in which he spoke about the birth of the nation, the U.S. and the U.K.’s long-held alliance, fostering peace and the environment — a cause with which he’s heavily involved.
“We meet in times of great uncertainty; in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East, which pose immense challenges for the international community, and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries. We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your nation,” he said, referring to the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. “Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed.”
The rare address by a British monarch to Congress is taking place during the king’s four-day official state visit to the U.S. It was just the second time a British monarch has ever addressed Congress.
President Trump held a closed-door meeting with Charles in the Oval Office on Tuesday, amid tense relations between the U.S. and U.K. over the Iran war. After the meeting, Trump escorted the royals to their car, which was bound for Capitol Hill ahead of Charles’s speech. The president then spoke briefly with reporters, saying, “It was a really good meeting. He’s a fantastic person. They’re incredible people and it’s a real honor.”
After Charles’s speech, Charles met with executives from the technology sector, before returning to the White House for this evening’s state dinner.
Tomorrow, Charles and Queen Camilla will travel from Washington, D.C., to New York City for a series of events, including a visit to the 9/11 Memorial at One World Trade Center.
Trump and the first lady welcomed the royal couple on a dreary Tuesday morning with a traditional military arrival ceremony on the White House South Lawn. “What a beautiful British day this is,” Trump quipped at the start of his welcoming remarks, referring to frequently rainy weather in the U.K.
The four-day trip includes stops in Washington, D.C., New York and Virginia, and will conclude on Thursday, April 30.
