King Charles III and Queen Camilla met President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries at a garden party hosted by the British embassy Monday for the British king’s first state visit since assuming the throne. The visit celebrates 250 years of the independence of the United States from British rule.

The king and queen touched down at Joint Base Andrews, where they were greeted by U.S. Chief of Protocol Monica Crowley and the British ambassador to the U.S., Christian Turner, and a band playing “God Save the King,” followed by “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

King Charles will address Congress Tuesday, accepting an invitation from congressional leaders to share his vision “for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history.” The speech will mark the second time a British monarch will have addressed Congress; Queen Elizabeth II spoke to Congress in 1991 in a historic first.

Following tea with the president and the first lady in the White House South Portico, the royal couple visited the White House beehives. Later that evening, they attended the garden party, where they were serenaded by a choir singing both countries’ national anthems and mingled with U.S. officials. The king shook hands with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and his family. The queen was seen shaking hands with and smiling at former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), as well as greeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.