King Charles III presented President Donald Trump with a historic naval artifact during Tuesday’s state dinner, delivering the moment with a joke that drew laughter from the room.
The King gifted Trump the original bell from HMS Trump, a British submarine launched in 1944 that served in the Pacific during World War II.
“Tonight, Mr. President, I am delighted to present to you as a personal gift the original bell,” Charles said, noting it “may stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future.”
He then added with a smile, “And should you ever need to get hold of us… just give us a ring,” prompting a warm reaction from guests.
King Charles III on Tuesday joked that the British once made their own "small attempt" at real estate redevelopment of the White House during the War of 1812, when British forces set the White House on fire.
Charles was commenting on the demolition of the East Wing of the White House, where President Donald Trump wants to build a $400 million ballroom.
"I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year," Charles said at the state dinner at the White House, suggesting Trump may have been jealous of the royal residence.
"I'm sorry to say that we British of course made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814," the king quipped.
King Charles III invoked his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s 1957 visit to Washington, D.C., in an apparent bid to help repair the "special" relationship between the U.S. and U.K., as ties between the two nations have been strained by President Donald Trump’s repeated criticisms of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over Britain’s level of support for the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Charles was referring to Elizabeth's visit to the U.S. capital during the Eisenhower administration.
"When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the special back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East," Charles said at the state dinner at the White House on Tuesday.
"Nearly 70 years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today," he continued, adding that it is "not hard to see how important the relationship remains, in matters both seen and unseen."
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that King Charles III "agrees" with his position that Iran should be stopped from having a nuclear weapon.
"We’re doing a little Middle East work right now,” Trump said. “And we’re never going to let that opponent ever — Charles agrees with me, even more than I do — we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon. Our countries have stood together, defiant, triumphant against the forces of communism, fascism and tyranny," Trump said during a state dinner at the White House.
"History has known no more powerful force than the combination of American patriotism and British pride," he added.
As a constitutional monarch, Charles can only represent the U.K. but cannot speak for its government.
Charles did not address the Iran war in his own speech after Trump's, and Buckingham Palace has not publicly responded to Trump's claim about what appeared to be a private conversation with the monarch.
Since this was likely a private conversation, the palace is not expected to confirm Charles' position on Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Iran does not have nuclear weapons and denies attempting to obtain them, but it argues it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, including enrichment, as part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
This is not the first time Trump has shared a private conversation with Charles. Trump once shared apparent comments from the then-Prince Charles about the climate during a visit to the U.K. Trump has also previously shared part of a conversation he had with the late Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles III on Tuesday affirmed the importance of the U.S.-U.K. relationship, including through the creation of NATO in the aftermath of World War II.
This comes after President Donald Trump has suggested withdrawing the U.S. from NATO over what he believes is insufficient support from fellow members in the war on Iran.
Charles noted how both the U.S. and U.K. have supported each other in their "darkest days" and at a "critical time" with the establishment of NATO in 1949.
"During World War II, at a most critical time in the darkest days of the 20th century, American leadership helped rebuild a shattered continent, playing a decisive role as a defender of freedom in Europe," he said at the state dinner at the White House.
Charles also stressed the need for both sides to remain committed to backing Ukraine amid its war with Russia, which began with Moscow's invasion more than four years ago. The king keeping NATO countries together is necessary to prevent further tensions between Europe and North America.
"We and I shall never forget that, nor least, not least as freedom is again under attack following Russia's invasion of Ukraine today, our partnerships in NATO and orcas deepen our technological and military cooperation and ensure that together we can meet the challenges of an increasingly complex and contested world," Charles said.
King Charles and Queen Camilla are reigning supreme, bringing sparkle, charm, and plenty of dazzle for a glamorous evening at the White House.
On Tuesday, the royal couple were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump at a state dinner in the East Room. The wives delighted spectators with their jewel-hued ensembles.
The queen wore a deep fuchsia pink evening gown by Fiona Clare, one of her go-to couturiers. The dress was paired with an amethyst and diamond necklace gifted to Queen Victoria and then passed to Queen Mary, the BBC reported. While Queen Elizabeth II wore a tiara for her 2007 visit to the U.S., Camilla, 78, did not.
"Not wearing a tiara to the U.S., a republic, makes sense," royal commentator Amanda Matta told Fox News Digital. "It might be a respectful acknowledgment of our 250th year of independence from monarchy. Still, I did expect some razzle dazzle to give President Trump a taste of the royal flair that Britain does so well! But Queen Camilla's necklace does the job there. It appears to be the Kent Amethyst Necklace."
"I think the no-tiara move is understandable, if a bit disappointing for royal watchers!" Matta noted. "Since this visit is underscoring America's independence, a tiara could have read as over-the-top."
The queen further accessorized with matching earrings and a shimmering silver clutch.
This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News' Stephanie Nolasco.
{{#rendered}}King Charles III drew laughs during the White House state dinner Tuesday with a tongue-in-cheek remark about American history and language.
Referring to comments by President Donald Trump about Europe, Charles quipped: “Dare I say that if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French?”
The line prompted laughter from the room as the King added that both nations “love our French cousins greatly,” before pivoting back to the enduring relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
President Donald Trump opened the White House state dinner Tuesday night by praising King Charles III’s earlier address to Congress and joking about the bipartisan reception it received.
“Charles made a fantastic speech today at Congress,” Trump said. “He got the Democrats to stand, and I’ve never been able to do it. I couldn’t believe it.”
“They liked him more than they’ve ever liked any Republican or Democrat, actually,” Trump added, drawing laughs from the room.
Trump also reflected on his previous visit to Windsor Castle, joking about its size and its builder, William the Conqueror, saying "I looked down as a former real estate person, and it just went on forever."
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a wide-ranging guest list Tuesday night for the state dinner honoring King Charles III and Queen Camilla, bringing together leaders from politics, business, media and tech.
Among those attending were Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Jensen Huang and Marc Andreessen, alongside top administration officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Top congressional leaders in attendance included House Speaker Mike Johnson as well as Sens. John Barrasso and Lindsey Graham.
The Supreme Court was also heavily represented, including John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.
Media figures in attendance included Fox News' Bret Baier, Maria Bartiromo, Laura Ingraham, Ainsley Earhardt and Jesse Watters.
Members of the Trump family, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, were also in attendance, along with lawmakers from both chambers and senior British officials.
Notably absent from the dinner include any Congressional Democrats, including leaders like Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Sen. Chuck Schumer.
The dinner drew a mix of political heavyweights, tech billionaires and media personalities.
{{#rendered}}Tim Cook was seen heading into Blair House in Washington on Monday after clearing security, ahead of a high-level technology reception with King Charles III.
Apple was among several major firms represented at the event, alongside executives from NVIDIA, Meta, AMD, Google, IonQ and Salesforce, according to a British government release.
The reception, held at Blair House, was aimed at reinforcing the United Kingdom as a “tier-one destination” for global tech investment and deepening bilateral cooperation across artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and energy.
The gathering builds on the Technology Prosperity Deal signed during Donald Trump’s 2025 state visit to the U.K., which included tens of billions in U.S. investment commitments and collaboration between the two nations.
First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla stepped out in formal evening wear Tuesday for the White House state dinner, with both looks in different shades of pink.
President Donald Trump and King Charles III accompanied them on the red carpet as the couples arrived for the event.
The first lady wore a pale delphinium pink silk strapless gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture, paired with off-white suede gloves and matching silk pumps from Dior.
Queen Camilla, meanwhile, wore a deep pink evening gown by British designer Fiona Clare, along with an amethyst and diamond necklace with royal provenance, according to BBC.
The necklace was originally gifted by a former Duchess of Kent to Queen Victoria and later passed down to Queen Mary,
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stepped out of the White House Tuesday evening to King Charles III and Queen Camilla as their motorcade pulled up for the state dinner.
The vehicle arrived just after 7:19 p.m., with Charles and Camilla exiting to greet the first couple. Trump shook the King’s hand while the first lady greeted the Queen with a handshake and cheek kiss.
The four lined up briefly for photos on the red carpet before Trump pointed toward Charles and remarked, “he made a great speech, I’m very jealous,” referencing the King’s earlier address to Congress.
The king responded quietly to the president, and the two spoke for several moments as they stood together before turning toward the entrance.
{{#rendered}}First Lady Melania Trump released details Tuesday for the state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump in honor of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, sharing the seasonal, garden-inspired menu and formal program celebrating the “special relationship” between the two nations.
The evening will begin with a garden vegetable velouté paired with hearts of palm, toasted shallots and micro mint, followed by spring herbed ravioli with ricotta, morels and parmesan emulsion sourced in part from the White House Kitchen Garden.
The main course features Dover sole meunière with potato pavé, spring ramps and snow peas, before a dessert course centered on a beehive-shaped chocolate gâteau with vanilla bean crémeux, almond joconde, crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey, a nod to the administration’s focus on garden and apiary elements during the visit.
Wines include a 2024 Hopkins Riesling, a 2022 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir and a 2022 Newton Chardonnay, selected to showcase American winemaking and complement the menu.
Entertainment will be provided by U.S. military ensembles, including “The President’s Own” Marine Band, Army and Air Force choruses and strings.
The décor draws on English garden themes, with cherry blossoms, lilac arrangements and green linens filling the State Dining Room alongside historic White House china services.
First Lady Melania Trump was photographed trying on Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses during a joint appearance with Queen Camilla at the White House on Tuesday.
The moment took place during a youth-focused activity featuring Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the White House grounds as part of the state visit by King Charles III and the queen.
The glasses, developed by Meta in partnership with Ray-Ban, include built-in camera and audio features and have been promoted as part of the company’s push into consumer AI wearables.
The White House shared a series of posts Tuesday showing President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, King Charles III and Queen Camilla touring a beehive on the White House grounds during the state visit.
One post featured bee emojis, while another read “BEE BEST," an apparent nod to the first lady’s Be Best initiative.
In one image, a bee appears to land on Trump’s hand as the group looks on. Another shows the leaders gathered around a small, White House-shaped hive in the garden. The posts quickly drew millions of views online.
The moment comes as part of a broader exchange during the visit, which included the first lady gifting Queen Camilla a jar of White House honey, according to materials released earlier by Buckingham Palace.
{{#rendered}}Buckingham Palace said King Charles III was “deeply honoured” to deliver a joint address to Congress, adding he was “greatly touched by the warmth and generosity of the response he received.”
A palace aide said the King also intended to reference victims of abuse, noting: “It was certainly in HM’s mind to acknowledge victims of abuse, so they are naturally incorporated in this line.”
In the address, Charles said: “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.”
The remarks come after scrutiny of the Royal Family’s past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The king’s brother, Andrew, was stripped of his royal duties and titles following his association with Epstein.
The White House shared a photo of President Donald Trump and King Charles III with the caption “TWO KINGS,” as the British monarch visited Washington.
The post quickly gained traction online, drawing more than 2 million views within hours.
The image shows the two leaders smiling together during the king’s state visit to Washington.
It comes as anti-Trump “No Kings” protests have been held in multiple cities in recent weeks in staunch opposition to the president.
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., was seen whispering to King Charles III moments before the monarch’s address to Congress, prompting a laugh from the king.
Burchett later told Fox News the two briefly discussed Charles’ Aston Martin DB6 convertible, a rare vehicle associated with the royal.
The light moment came just before the king began his historic joint address.
Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this reporting.
{{#rendered}}The United Kingdom has gifted a bespoke commemorative coin to the American people marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, according to a British Embassy release.
The coin, produced by The Royal Mint, was presented by Ambassador Sir Christian Turner and is designed to reflect the shared history and partnership between the two nations.
The front features a portrait of King Charles III encircled by a wreath symbolizing the U.S.-U.K. bond, with 45 leaves representing American presidents and 10 for British monarchs since 1776, alongside references to the original 13 states.
The reverse shows an American eagle representing freedom and independence, with inscriptions following both nations’ leadership histories.
King Charles III said he and Queen Camilla will visit the 9/11 memorial in New York City this week, ahead of the attacks’ 25th anniversary.
“This atrocity was a defining moment for America, and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world,” the king said. “We will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss.”
“We stood with you then, and we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten,” he added.
King Charles III drew laughter in the House chamber after joking about America’s founding, calling it what Charles Dickens “might have called ‘a tale of two Georges.’”
“The first president, George Washington, and my five-times great-grandfather, King George III,” he said, before adding with a smile, “Please rest assured, I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action.”
The king went on to praise the Founding Fathers as “bold and imaginative rebels with a cause,” noting they forged a nation grounded in “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
{{#rendered}}King Charles III appeared to reference the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday, telling lawmakers, “We meet too, in the aftermath of the incident, not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your nation and to foment wider fear and discord.”
“Let me say with unshakable resolve, such acts of violence will never succeed,” the king added.
He continued, “Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.”
King Charles III espoused the U.S.-U.K. alliance in his address to Congress, quoting President Donald Trump directly:
“The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable.”
The line drew loud applause from lawmakers across the chamber.
King Charles III received a warm, bipartisan welcome in the House chamber, with loud applause, cheers and a standing ovation from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Members of Congress, including Democrats like Rep. Ilhan Omar and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, rose to greet the British monarch as he began his historic address.
The room also broke into laughter after the king joked that the U.S. and U.K. share “everything in common… except, of course, language.”
{{#rendered}}King Charles III is expected to deliver a roughly 20-minute address to a joint session of Congress, according to prepared remarks.
The speech is slated to touch on the U.S.-U.K. alliance, global security challenges and shared democratic values.
Buckingham Palace released details Tuesday of the official gift exchange between King Charles III and President Donald Trump during the British monarch’s state visit to the United States.
The king presented Trump with a framed facsimile of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk, the historic Oval Office desk originally crafted from the timbers of the British ship HMS Resolute and gifted to President Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria.
In return, Trump gifted the king a custom facsimile of an 1785 letter from John Adams to John Jay, recounting Adams’ meeting with King George III as the first U.S. ambassador to Great Britain following American independence.
Queen Camilla presented first lady Melania Trump with a brooch by British designer Fiona Rae, while the first lady gifted the queen a set of Tiffany sterling silver teaspoons engraved with her cypher, along with White House honey.
King Charles III met with Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, where the two paused for a brief photo op and press spray with American and U.K. flags behind them.
The king then joined a seated meeting with congressional leaders, including John Thune and Chuck Schumer. Johnson was positioned at the head of the room alongside the monarch as the group convened for the discussion.
Members of Congress and staff gathered around the Capitol for the visit, which marked a key stop in the king’s Washington schedule Tuesday ahead of his historic address.
{{#rendered}}First lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla joined local foster children on the White House tennis courts to use AI-powered technology to explore U.S. and U.K. history.
The pair reviewed tablets and walked around the courts while local foster children donned virtual reality goggles and AI-powered gasses.
The first lady and the queen also posed for photos with the children.
The British government advised King Charles III on the language he'll use in his joint address to the U.S. Congress.
"We've been told by the Brits that the king's speech is expected to go about 20 minutes when he's in front of Congress," Fox News' Peter Doocy reported Tuesday.
"It's written with the advice of the British government. Of course the government is separate from the crown, but they want him to help advance their strategic priorities with the U.S. so they write things that they want said in the king's voice," Doocy concluded.
The king's speech comes at pivotal time in U.S.-U.K. relations as tensions broil between President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz.
While King Charles III was participating in a historic White House welcoming ceremony Tuesday, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., was holding his own roundtable featuring Jeffrey Epstein accusers.
Khanna had requested that King Charles III speak directly to survivors, but palace sources told multiple media outlets that the king would not be taking a meeting, citing a risk of tainting ongoing legal proceedings.
Khanna signaled the king could still acknowledge Epstein survivors in his expected address to a joint session of U.S. Congress. "I met with the British ambassador. The British ambassador has suggested that the king will acknowledge the Epstein survivors in his address to Congress today," Khanna said during the roundtable.
Khanna went ahead with the roundtable, which featured lawmakers, advocacy group leaders and survivors of sexual abuse. The event also featured two siblings of Virginia Roberts Giuffre, one of the earliest and most high-profile Epstein accusers who took her own life in April 2025.
Lawmakers in attendance included Khanna and Reps. Summer Lee, D-Pa., Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-N.M.
Leger Fernandez was particularly critical of King Charles III.
"A very rich and powerful person is going to speak to the joint session of Congress and he refused to speak to you. But you didn't bow down," she told alleged survivors in the meeting.
Two prominent members of the U.K. crown and government resigned or were ousted as a result of relationships with Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles stripped his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, of his title as Prince Andrew in October 2025 over his relationship with Epstein.
Lord Peter Mandelson also resigned from his position as a Member of Parliament in February over revelations regarding his communications with Epstein.
Fox News Digital contacted representatives for the crown for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
{{#rendered}}
President Donald Trump implored the United States and the United Kingdom to continue to their shared traditions of liberty and excellence during a speech at Tuesday's welcoming ceremony for King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House.
"Today we look back on 250 years. Let us remember what has made our countries the two most exceptional nations the world has ever known. And together, let us go forward with even stronger resolve to carry on our sacred devotion to liberty and to the traditions of excellence that have been our shared gift of all mankind," Trump said.
Celebrating the 250th anniversary of America declaring independence from the British crown, Trump highlighted the oft-referred to "special relationship" between the two states over the years, pointing in particular to a meeting between former President Franklin Roosevelt and former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
"Beneath those beautiful flags, eight decades ago, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and President Franklin Roosevelt famously met on a ship in the North Atlantic to outline a vision for the free world after World War Two. That understanding of our nation's unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship, and we hope it will always remain that way," Trump said.
"The ship where the two great leaders met was called the Prince of Wales, the very title that His Majesty the King held longer than any other individual in British history. And he held it with great pride and respect. It said that when Prime Minister Churchill first met this future king many decades ago, he was so impressed he made the statement 'he is so young to think so much and so well,' and the bust of your great Prime Minister rests proudly again in the Oval Office. We're very proud to bring it back. We brought it back."
Trump ended his remarks by thanking the king and queen. "Your Majesties, thank you once again for making this important visit. We are so honored. May God forever bless the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you. Thank you," he concluded.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in observing the first-ever Pass in Review at the White House from the Truman balcony.
The Pass in Review is a formal military ceremony where troops march past the commander-in-chief and other high ranking officials or visiting dignitaries to demonstrate their readiness. The White House said Tuesday's Pass in Review involved 300 U.S. service members, with nearly 500 members of the U.S. Armed Forces from all six military branches present at the ceremony --- a historic first for state visits.
In a ceremony welcoming King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House, President Donald Trump recognized how a "direct descendant" of King George III will address a joint session of U.S. Congress 250 years after the America colonies declared their independence from the British empire.
King Charles III will become the first British king, and the second British monarch, to address U.S. Congress later Tuesday.
"The direct descendant of King George III will speak to the direct successor of the very body that gathered in Independence Hall on July 4th, 1776," Trump said, pointing to the fact that today's Congress is a successor to the Second Continental Congress that formally adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
"If John Adams and George Washington, or the King's fifth great grandfather, could see that sight, they might be absolutely shocked. But probably only for a moment," Trump continued.
"Surely they would be delighted that the wounds of war healed into the most cherished friendship. Think of that. Very, very long ago difficult war. And yet those wounds did indeed heal into the most cherished of friendships. Most cherished. There would be moved beyond words to know that the soldiers who once called each other Redcoats and Yankees became the Tommies, and the GIs who together saved the free world as brothers in arms and brothers in eternity," the president remarked, referring to U.S.-U.K. cooperation during Word War II.
"And nobody fought better together than us. If they could see us today, our ancestors would surely be filled with awe and pride that the Anglo-American revolution and human freedom was never, ever extinguished, but carried forward across centuries, across oceans and across history, until it became a fire that lit the entire world," Trump stated
{{#rendered}}
President Donald Trump honored the Scottish origins of his late mother, Mary MacLeod, and revealed she had a crush on King Charles III during a White House welcoming ceremony for the king and Queen Camilla on Tuesday.
"My wonderful mother, Mary MacLeod, Mary MacLeod, was born in Stornoway, Scotland, the Hebrides. And that's what they call very serious Scotland. There's no question about it. Some places they say, well, it was it really Scotland? The Hebrides? That's real serious Scotland. That's where they had their greatest of warriors, the greatest of warriors. She came to America at 19, met my incredible father. We loved him so much. We all loved him. We loved her. We loved him. Fred," Trump said.
The president then cracked a joke about the length of his parents' marriage, jesting with first lady Melania Trump that they would be unlikely to match his parents' feat.
"They were married for 63 years. And, excuse me, if you don't mind. That's a record we won't be able to match, darling," Trump said. "I'm sorry. Just not going to work out that way. We'll do well, but we're not going to do that well. 63 years."
He then revealed the extent of his mothers' affection for the Royal Family and for King Charles III in particular.
"And my mother, I just see it so clearly... I told the King that she loved the royal family, and she loved the Queen," Trump said. "And any time the Queen was involved in a ceremony or anything, my mother would be glued to the television and she'd say, 'Look, Donald, look how beautiful that is.' She really did love the family. But I also remember her saying very clearly, 'Charles, look, young Charles, he's so cute.' My mother had a crush on Charles. Can you believe it? I wonder what she's thinking right now."
Prominent business and political leaders gathered on the White House lawn Tuesday morning for a ceremony welcoming the United Kingdom's King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who recently announced he'd be stepping down from that role later this year, was spotted in the crowd. Joining him was fellow tech titan Jensen Huang, CEO of AI chip powerhouse Nvidia.
Other's spotted included prominent political leaders. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., was in attendance, as were Reps. Brian Mast, R-Fla., and Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla.
Other political powerbrokers in the crowd included Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.
The distinguished group joined President Donald Trump's Cabinet ahead of the historic state visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the first visit from a U.K. monarch in 19 years.
Sir Christian Turner, British ambassador to the United States, insisted that the U.S. and the United Kingdom "share the same objective on Iran" ahead of King Charles III and President Donald Trump's planned meeting in the Oval Office.
Turner's comments came on the second day of a historic four-day state visit by the king and Queen Camilla to the U.S.
“On this conflict, let me be clear, we all share the same objective on Iran," Turner told Fox & Friends on Tuesday morning.
"This is a regime that has spent 40 years exporting terror. We absolutely are clear it cannot have a nuclear weapon."
Turner acknowledged a "disagreement originally about the preemptive start to the war," but said "since then, the U.K. has been allowing its bases to be used for U.S. bombers to make defensive strikes." He said the U.K. has had its planes flying alongside the rest of the defensive U.S. systems in the region and "more British fighters fighting every night shooting down drones and missiles than we've had for something like 15 years, and of course, our deep intelligence work."
"We want to see this war come to an end. The president's blockade to try and keep the pressure up and hopefully get a deal that opens the Straits of Hormuz for all of our economies," Turner said.
Turner agreed that Iran has been a problem for the U.K., saying he was the lead negotiators for the U.K. and his country has "been at the forefront of trying to stop this regime exporting this threat that it does."
"These Straits actually for the U.K., we don't get a lot of our oil and gas out of the Straits but of course they're global commodities. So if we're only taking two percent of the gas but everything rises in prices, it's all of our consumers that suffer," he said.
"This is an extraordinary and historic moment we're part of," Turner said before the king's meeting with Trump and expected address to U.S. Congress.
"The diplomacy is actually personal," he said, noting "affection" seen between the king, queen, Trump and first lady Melania Trump. "Of course, that was built on the president's deep affection for his mother, the late queen."
"The queen had a lifelong love affair with this country. Four state visits she made," he said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially rejected a request from the U.S. to use U.K. bases, including Royal Air Force base Fairford, which houses America's fleet of heavy bombers in Europe and Diego Garcia, a U.S. base on a British Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean, to stage bombing campaigns on Iran. The rejection prompted Trump to harshly criticize Starmer, telling reporters "this is not Winston Churchill we are dealing with."
The U.K. did ultimately allow the U.S. to use Fairford and other bases for "specific and limited defensive purpose." Tensions have remained between Trump and Starmer regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for the world's energy market.
{{#rendered}}As Britain publicly distances itself from President Donald Trump’s Iran pressure campaign, King Charles III’s upcoming visit is shaping up as more than royal pageantry.
It may be Britain’s most important diplomatic tool for preventing growing policy fractures with Washington from becoming something deeper."
The British monarch has historically had huge importance in terms of creating personal diplomacy to smooth over ruffled feathers," Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, a London-based think tank, told Fox News Digital, arguing that the crown has often served as Britain’s strategic stabilizer during moments of political strain.
This is an excerpt from a story by Efrat Lachter. Read the full article here.
Many royal watchers say King Charles’ state visit is a test of the "special friendship" between the U.S. and the U.K. — and the monarch is up for the challenge.
Royal broadcaster Neil Sean told Fox News Digital that Charles is navigating a "delicate situation" during the four-day visit, which coincides with celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary. But as glasses clink and guests gather at the White House state banquet on April 28, the king, 77, is expected to rely on his greatest asset: his signature charm.
"He plans to focus on humor, a trait that dates back to his ancestor King George in the 1700s," Sean explained. "What most people don’t know is that the king is well-read on history. And I’ve been told King Charles finds President Trump fascinating."
This is an excerpt from a story by Stephanie Nolasco. Read the full article here.
King Charles III will address a joint meeting of Congress on Tuesday during his U.S. state visit marking America’s 250th birthday, stepping into a high-profile ceremonial moment as Washington remains on edge over heightened security concerns and tensions tied to the war with Iran.
The four-day trip is stacked with various events and private meetings, and comes during escalating pressure on security in Washington, D.C. following the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner that targeted President Donald Trump and his administration officials.
Queen Elizabeth II was the first monarch to deliver a speech at the U.S. Capitol during a state visit in 1991, two months after the end of the Gulf War, hammering down the importance of transatlantic alliances in her speech.
This is an excerpt from a story from Ashley J. DiMella. Read the full article here.
Yesterday's Fox News Digital live blog offers additional coverage on King Charles III and Queen Camilla's state visit.
{{#rendered}}Coverage for this event has ended.