King Charles III of Britain said Tuesday that his country and the U.S. have had many differences over the past 250 years, but told a joint meeting of Congress that the two nations “have always found a way to come together.”
Speaking to a packed House chamber, Charles made no direct references to the war in Iran, only noting that he was speaking at a time of “great uncertainty.” He said both countries were “in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East, which pose immense challenges for the international community.”
The king’s rare address to Congress came at a tense time for the relationship between Washington and London. President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have sparred over Britain’s refusal to join the Iran war.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly criticized and even mocked Mr. Starmer for rebuffing his calls for military support. The U.S. president has disparaged his British counterpart as “no Winston Churchill.”
Officials in the U.K. were hopeful that the king’s speech would smooth over tensions with Mr. Trump. The president has repeatedly said that he is a big fan of King Charles and the royal family.
Charles, 77, said the histories of the countries have always found a way to get past their differences and reaffirm what he described as a “special relationship” because of their long-standing democratic values.
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“The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership,” the king said. “From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”
Tuesday was only the second time a British monarch has ever addressed Congress, following his mother Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. The king spoke to members of the House and Senate for roughly 20 minutes, interrupted multiple times by thunderous applause.
Repeatedly emphasizing the two nations’ “common democratic, legal and social traditions,” the king said the U.S. and U.K. have always found a way to “come together.”
“And by Jove, Mr. Speaker, when we have found that way to agree, what great change is brought about — not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples,” Charles said. “This, I believe, is the special ingredient in our relationship.”
The king also did not directly address the fallout from the files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which has upended politics on both sides of the Atlantic. In February, U.K. authorities arrested the king’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, on suspicion of misconduct over his friendship with Epstein.
While not naming Epstein or his victims, the king referred to “victims of some ills” that exist in both societies.
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He also acknowledged Saturday’s attack on the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in which a gunman tried to storm the ballroom in an alleged assassination attempt on Mr. Trump. The king declared that “violence will never succeed.”
Charles also devoted a large portion of his speech to protecting the environment, which has long been one of his most passionate causes. He spoke of “the natural wonders” of the U.S. and cited President Theodore Roosevelt, who hailed “the glorious heritage of this land’s extraordinary natural splendor.”
