King Charles is scheduled to hold a private meeting and tea with President Donald Trump during his upcoming state visit to the United States, as British officials look to leverage the monarchy’s influence to help mend strained relations following the Iran war.

The king and Queen Camilla will travel to the U.S. beginning April 27 for a four-day visit, officially marking 250 years since American independence from Britain. However, the trip carries added weight as tensions have grown between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the aftermath of the conflict.

“The visit … recognizes the challenges the United Kingdom, the United States, and our allies face across the world,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said on Tuesday. “This visit is a moment to reaffirm and renew our bilateral ties as we address those challenges together, in the UK’s national interest.”

According to details released by the palace, Trump and first lady Melania Trump will welcome the royal couple in Washington with a private tea, followed by formal ceremonies at the White House, including an official greeting, a state dinner, and a one-on-one meeting between the president and the monarch.

As previously announced, King Charles will also speak before Congress, becoming only the second British monarch to do so, following Queen Elizabeth’s address in 1991. The royal visit will then continue to New York, where Charles and Camilla plan to meet with families affected by the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The U.S. portion of the trip will conclude with a stop in Virginia, after which the king will continue on to Bermuda, where he serves as head of state.

Beyond the ceremonial elements, British officials are hoping the visit underscores what a Foreign Office spokesperson described as “the closest of friendships.”

That relationship has faced increasing strain since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, with Trump repeatedly criticizing Britain and Starmer for what he sees as insufficient support for the military effort.

He has dismissed Starmer as “not Winston Churchill” and Britain’s aircraft carriers as “toys,” although the president’s affection for Charles and the British royals has remained unwavering.

Public sentiment in Britain toward Trump remains largely negative, according to recent polling, and some political figures have called for the visit to be canceled altogether.

“(Trump) is a dangerous and corrupt ⁠gangster, and that is how we must treat him,” Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrat party, said in parliament ⁠on Monday.

“I really fear for what Trump might say or do while our king is forced to stand by his side. We cannot put His Majesty in that position.”

Starmer, for his part, has attempted to navigate a careful line—keeping distance from the conflict while avoiding direct confrontation with Trump—while emphasizing the enduring importance of U.S.-UK ties.

“The monarchy, through the bonds that it builds, is often able to reach through the decades on a situation like this,” Starmer said.

{Matzav.com}