The president told guests gathered on the lawn of the White House: ‘Americans have had no closer friends than the British’.
US President Donald Trump has praised the “special relationship” between America and the UK, telling the King “we hope it will always remain that way”.
The American leader spoke passionately about the bonds between the two nations as he staged a ceremonial military welcome for Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House.
Despite the recent tensions between the UK and the US, Mr Trump, speaking from a podium on the South Lawn on the second day of the King’s historic state visit, declared: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”
And he paid tribute to the “essence” of the “special relationship” in the wake of the Second World War, saying: “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.”
Charles’s most diplomatically sensitive state visit to date comes amid a backdrop of criticism levelled by Mr Trump at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the war in Iran.
Officials in Downing Street will be hoping the royal family’s soft power diplomacy can help heal the rift, and Mr Trump demonstrated his affection for the King during the formal welcome.
He said it was a “tremendous privilege to host” Charles and Camilla, called the King a “very elegant man”, praised the late Queen Elizabeth II as a “very special woman” and revealed his mother, Mary, had a “crush” on the King when he was younger.
“She really did love the family but I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Charles, look young Charles, he’s so cute’,” Mr Trump said.
“My mother had a crush on Charles – can you believe it? Amazing how… I wonder what she’s thinking right now?”
The president and First Lady Melania Trump staged an unprecedented military ceremony for their royal guests.
Charles and Camilla watched the display in Washington DC with their hosts, alongside a group of invited dignitaries and hundreds of spectators.
The royal couple arrived in Washington on Monday for the start of a four-day state visit to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Later the King will tell Congress the story of the UK and US since America’s independence is “one of the greatest alliances in human history” where the two nations find ways to “come together”.
During the welcome ceremony, the King and Queen stood on a dais with the president and first lady as the UK and US national anthems were played by The President’s Own United States Marine Band.
Nearby, a 21-gun salute was fired in tribute to the royal guests by the Presidential Salute Battery.
Senior members of Mr Trump’s administration were among the guests, including vice-president JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions.
A large number of military units took part in the ceremonial welcome from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to the United States Space Force Honour Guard who performed in the rain, which stopped before the royals arrived.
Before the event began and the royal party appeared, the crowds was entertained by precision marching and playing by the Drum and Bugle Corps, including the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
