[Video below.] President Trump and Melania Trump greeted King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House today, signaling a friendly opening to a high-profile visit intended to calm tensions between the United States and the United Kingdom.

As the royal couple arrived, both pairs exchanged greetings, with Melania Trump giving a respectful bow to King Charles.

With the welcoming gestures complete, the group moved into the White House’s Green Room, where they sat down for a classic English afternoon tea featuring small sandwiches, bite-sized desserts, and freshly poured loose-leaf tea strained into cups.

During the visit, the president gestured toward ongoing construction work on a new ballroom at the White House.

After leaving the White House, the king and queen made their way to a large garden reception at the British ambassador’s residence.

At the gathering, Charles and Camilla were seen mingling with prominent figures including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, White House deputy chiefs of staff Stephen Miller and James Blair, and CNN host Kaitlin Collins.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) also spent time with the royal guests, both expressing confidence that members of Congress would extend a warm welcome when the king visits Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

The royal visit, which spans four days, includes several major events, among them King Charles’s planned address to a joint session of Congress and a formal state dinner at the White House.

On Wednesday, the king and queen are scheduled to travel to Lower Manhattan to visit the 9/11 Memorial.

At the same time, the 77-year-old monarch faces expectations to help repair strained relations between Washington and London, taking on a diplomatic role aimed at improving ties between President Trump and the British government.

The president has openly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, faulting him for what he views as insufficient support during the conflict with Iran and criticizing restrictions on oil drilling in the North Sea.

Starmer, for his part, has made efforts to maintain a positive relationship, including placing a phone call to Trump on Sunday following the shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner the previous night.

“He expressed his relief that the President and First Lady were safe and wished a speedy recovery to the officer injured,” 10 Downing Street said in a readout of the PM’s conversation.

Despite those efforts, British officials see the king’s visit as a key component in strengthening diplomatic ties.

Trump has long expressed admiration for the British monarchy, and the current visit — marking the 250th anniversary of American independence — represents the first official state visit of his second term.

The trip began on a ceremonial note at Joint Base Andrews, where children from British military families living in the United States presented flowers to the king and queen. A U.S. military honor guard stood in formation along the red carpet as a band performed both “God Save the King” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Queen Camilla wore a notable piece of jewelry with historic ties to New York City. The brooch, featuring both the Union Flag and the Stars and Stripes, was originally gifted to Queen Elizabeth II by New York City Mayor Robert Wagner during her first state visit to the United States in October 1957. The piece is adorned with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.

Throughout the visit, a full schedule of appearances has been arranged to showcase the royal couple and foster goodwill among Americans, whose country gained independence from Britain 250 years ago.

One of the central events will take place Tuesday evening, when the president hosts a state dinner at the White House, expected to include many of his children along with business leaders and other invited guests.

Upon arriving in Washington, the king and queen traveled from Joint Base Andrews to Blair House, the official guest residence located across from the White House, where American and British flags lined the street in anticipation of their stay.

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