US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Great Britain with a military ceremony at the White House.
It is reported that the national anthems of both countries were played at the ceremony, and Trump stated that the ties between the US and Great Britain are unbreakable.
In his speech, Trump said that hosting the British monarch at the White House on the 250th anniversary of US independence was both ironic and honorable. He emphasized that Americans are proud of their English roots and that the people of the US have no closer friend than the British.
The visit coincides with a period of ongoing disagreements between the US and Great Britain regarding the Iran issue. Nevertheless, both sides sought to convey a message of strategic partnership and historical alliance at the ceremony.
It was reported that the leaders held a closed-door meeting after the official welcome. The agenda of the meeting reportedly included issues of global security, trade, and political cooperation between the two countries.
King Charles III is also expected to address a joint session of the US Congress as part of the visit. This address will be the first by a British monarch to the US Congress since 1991.
The visit is seen as an attempt by the Trump administration to strengthen relations with key allies. For the White House, this meeting serves as both a diplomatic gesture and a demonstration of the historical ties between Washington and London.