Image source, Media Punch Inc/Alamy/PA

When he stands in front of members of Congress, King Charles will be performing a ritual only witnessed once before.

In May 1991, Charles's mother Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address the US Congress.

On that occasion, much of the monarch's 13-minute speech focused on the Gulf war, and the UK-US coalition that had recently responded to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.

"Together, we are doing our best to re-establish peace and civil order in the region, and to help those members of ethnic and religious minorities who continue to suffer through no fault of their own," she told Congress.

The Queen also stressed the importance of Nato and warned against being "enticed into a form of continental insularity" as history has shown "progress is made when Europeans and Americans act in concert".

Praising the so-called "special relationship" between the UK and US, Queen Elizabeth II said both the UK's Parliament and US Congress are founded in parallel on the "spirit of democracy".

"You will find us worthy partners, and we are proud to have you as our friends," she finished.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

The King is soon going to address Congress inside the chamber of the House of Representatives.

It's already filling up with a lot of excited US lawmakers, chatting and waving, snapping selfies together, like guests at a big wedding.

A man in a dark suit and tie has brought in his baby for the big moment.

The King will be speaking from the podium where the President gives the State of the Union address.

This time it will be the King giving a state of the UK and US union address.

But judging from the holiday atmosphere down there, they're going to be an enthusiastic crowd.

Ambassador's remarks made public right in the middle of royal visitpublished at 19:37 BST 28 April

19:37 BST 28 April

Sarah Smith
North America editor

It’s the job of the British Ambassador to Washington – the UK’s most senior diplomat – to make sure that the King’s US visit goes smoothly and does not generate any embarrassing headlines.

So it is exceptionally awkward that it is the ambassador, Sir Christian Turner, who is in the news for comments he made to UK students visiting Washington, just after he took up the post. Published in the FT just minutes before the King and Queen, and he himself, were due to arrive at the White House for an official greeting and military programme with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

The most controversial thing he said was that America’s only “special relationship” is “probably Israel”, not the UK. That’s incredibly awkward when the King is in the US to try to bolster that “special relationship” at a time when relations between Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer are at a very low ebb.

The King wants to emphasise that the US and the UK have been extremely close allies for most of the last 250 years. But the man - whose official title is “His Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America” - is reported to have said Isreal is a closer friend of the US.

British officials really don’t like the phrase “special relationship”. Most diplomats avoid using it, thinking it sounds needy and carries a lot of baggage. And it is arguably true that Israel is currently a much closer American ally than the UK.

Those two nations are currently fighting a war in Iran together. A war the UK Prime Minister has refused to get involved in.

But none of that will spare the embarrassment of these remarks being made public right in the middle of the royal visit

Image source, Reuters

Anna Lamche
BBC News reporter

The UK's ambassador to the US has said the only country that has a "special relationship" with the United States is "probably Israel".

"My advice to my prime minister is 'I can't just put my hands on my ears and say it's special, it's going to be fine'," Sir Christian Turner told a group of students of the transatlantic relationship in February.

The remarks were first reported by the Financial Times, external this week - during King Charles III's state visit to the US, which comes amid heightened tension over the Iran war.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the "private, informal comments" were "not any reflection" of the government's position.

In a leaked audio recording of Sir Christian's meeting with UK students visiting the US, he can be heard saying: "'Special relationship' is a phrase I try not to utter because it's quite nostalgic, it's quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of sort of baggage about it."

"I think there is probably one country that has a special relationship with the United States, and that is probably Israel," he said.

Sir Christian also said the US and the UK share "a deep history and affinity", particularly on security and defence, and noted their "economies are very close".

Read more about the UK ambassador's comments here.

The US Speaker of the House, Republican Congressman Mike Johnson, is now showing King Charles around the US Capitol.

The two are pictured walking together through Statuary Hall, an area filled with sculptures and other art.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

The King and Queen have exchanged gifts with their hosts President Trump and Melania Trump.

The King gave Trump a framed facsimile of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk which is made of timber from a British ship. In return, Trump gave the King a copy of of a letter written by John Adams, the first US ambassador to the UK, to then US Secretary of Foreign Affairs John Jay in 1785. In it, Adams describes being warmly received at St James's Palace by King George III.

Queen Camilla gave First Lady Melania Trump a brooch by British jewellery designer Fiona Rae, who blends traditional craft skills with computer-assisted designs.

The US first lady in return gave the Queen six silver King Sterling teaspoons designed by American jewellers Tiffany’s and a jar of honey from the newly installed White House beehive.

Image source, Reuters

In just over an hour, King Charles will become only the second British monarch to address the US Congress.

In his speech, the King is expected to say "time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together" as he calls for "reconciliation and renewal" between the US and UK.

The British monarch will also express his sympathies after an attack by a gunman at an event attended by US President Donald Trump.

The King will also tell US lawmakers that the transatlantic alliance is built on a "generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value people of all faiths and none".

He's expected to stress that, in times of great international challenges, it is more necessary than ever to stand together to defend democratic values.

The speech is written on the advice of government and is expected to last around 20 minutes.

The first time a monarch addressed both houses of the US Congress was in 1991, when Charles's mother Queen Elizabeth II gave a speech.

Image source, Getty Images

King Charles has arrived at the US Capitol ahead of his address to a joint session of Congress this afternoon.

He is welcomed by US House Speaker Mike Johnson.

At a meeting with members of Congress, the King was joined by UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and the UK ambassador to the US, Christian Turner.

Image source, Getty Images

Shaimaa Khalil
Reporting from Washington DC

At the same time as King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived at the White House for the second day of their state visit, I have been attending a separate event in Washington DC - a roundtable for survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna, who is hosting the event, said he is disappointed the Royals would not meet Epstein's survivors, but hoped King Charles would acknowledge them in his speech to Congress.

Campaigners had called for a meeting between survivors and the Royals. But Buckingham Palace earlier said this would not happen, arguing it could jeopardise legal proceedings and stop justice for victims.

Amanda and Sky Roberts - Virginia Guiffre’s brother and his wife - spoke at the round table, acknowledging that it’s been a year since Virginia’s death by suicide.

Virginia was one of the most outspoken accusers of Epstein and she accused him of trafficking her to the Duke of York, Prince Andrew - King Charles' brother - when she was 17. Prince Andrew has strenuously denied this.

"It's a missed opportunity for the King," Sky said, "That's his brother. And that's my sister.

"It's an ironic moment where our two stories tangle together. I would have hoped he would have taken a moment, even just to acknowledge and say, 'We see you, we believe you, and we'll hold a thorough investigation.'"

Image source, Getty Images

Elsewhere at the White House, the Queen and Melania Trump attended an event about the use of artificial intelligence and virtual reality in education.

They met students wearing virtual reality headsets and AI-enabled glasses as they explored British cultural sites like Stonehenge and Buckingham Palace from far away in Washington.

“Today, students all over the world can visit historically important sites, learn about the past, and be inspired,” Melania Trump said in a statement provided by her office.

“Our children don’t need to board airplanes to experience history anymore. Kids can have an educational experience that is fundamentally richer and more memorable than ever before, through VR and AI.”

Image source, Pool/Getty Images

Image source, Pool/Getty Images

We can now bring you photos from the closed-door meeting between King Charles III and US President Donald Trump inside the Oval Office.

Senior British and American officials were also present during the meeting.

Among those in attendance are UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, UK ambassador to the US Christian Turner, Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Image source, Getty Images

Following the ceremonial welcome, the King and Donald Trump are having a closed-door meeting at the White House, while Queen Camilla and Melania Trump are also meeting.

But perhaps the most significant part of this leg of the King's visit is when the King gives a speech to a joint session of Congress later today.

He will be the first British monarch to address the US House of Representatives and the Senate since his mother Queen Elizabeth II did so in 1991.

Later in the evening, the royals will be back at the White House for a state dinner.

President's welcome speech ticks all the boxes to delight UK diplomatspublished at 17:11 BST 28 April

17:11 BST 28 April

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Washington

Image source, Reuters

If this state visit is about rebuilding bridges with the US, the UK diplomats and politicians would have been delighted by that speech by President Trump.

It ticked all the boxes.

It spoke in the warmest tones of the historic ties between the two countries and the depth of the military alliance.

There were references to shared values and defending concepts of justice and liberty, which are themes likely to be echoed by the King’s speech to Congress later today.

“In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British. We share that same root, we speak the same language, we hold the same values,” he said, standing in front of the White House.

There were also some very Trumpian touches, praising the King’s “beautiful accent” and saying how his Scottish-born mother thought the young Charles was “cute” and had a crush on the young prince.

In those personal moments, you could almost see the president thinking aloud about his parents and telling them here he was with the King and Queen.

There was nothing abrasive or negative in this version of Trump. Here was Trump the likeable host and it would have been music to the ears of the visiting UK delegation.

Trump's affinity for Royal Family remains strong despite disagreements with Britainpublished at 17:05 BST 28 April

17:05 BST 28 April

Bernd Debusmann Jr
White House reporter

Image source, Reuters

I've just made it back to my desk in the basement of the White House after the ceremony outside.

It was unlike anything I've seen at the White House in the years I've been covering it during this Trump administration, and under Joe Biden.

There was much more pageantry to the whole event - an aerial flyby, troops marching in uniform, and an ecstatic crowd.

As I left the event, I was quickly escorted through the Rose Garden Patio, where troops dressed in Revolutionary War-era uniforms were standing in attention with muskets with British and American flags.

Trump's speech was also given in a very different tone to that I hear from the president often.

He clearly views the shared history between the UK and US as completely independent of any current policy disagreements he may have with the British government.

At no point did he mention any disagreements he has with the current British government, and his affinity for the Royal Family and British culture will almost certainly remain strong despite those disagreements.

Large crowds gathered excitedly outside the White House in rainy weather to watch the moment King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived to be greeted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

The Royals were treated to a military ceremony outside the White House, before the US president made a speech in which he praised the special relationship between the US and UK.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Following Trump's remarks, the King, Queen, president and first lady walked up the steps to the balcony overlooking the White House South Lawn to observe a flyover and troops marching below.

They have now entered the White House. We'll bring you more images and analyses of the ceremony soon.

Image source, Getty

Image source, Reuters

Trump has now finished speaking. Before ending his remarks he joked his mother, who was born in Scotland, had once had "a crush" on the King during his time as a prince.

Trump continued to discuss the histories of the US and UK, saying that eight decades ago Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt met on a ship in the north Atlantic "to outline a vision for free world after World War Two".

"That understanding of our nations' unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship and we hope it will always remain that way," he said.

"Let us go forward with even stronger resolve to carry on our sacred devotion to liberty and to the traditions of excellence that have been shared gift of all mankind."

Image source, Getty Images

Trump refers to a tree Queen Elizabeth II planted on a previous visit to the White House, calling it a living symbol of the centuries-old bond between both nations.

He says that young tree, which has now tripled in size and strength, mirrors the relationship between the two nations.

Trump says that, like the US, "it was laid by British hands on American soil".

He say that in the centuries since the US achieved independence, "Americans have had no closer friends than the British".

Image source, Getty Images

Trump says the King's speech to Congress later is "going to make everyone very envious of that beautiful accent".

"He's a very elegant man," adds Trump, who then talks about "the noble spirit of the British", connecting the history of the US with the UK.

The American "cause of freedom" did not "simply appear as an intellectual invention of 1776", Trump says.

"The American founding was the culmination of hundreds of years of thought, struggle, sweat, blood and sacrifice on both sides of the Atlantic."

Trump begins his speech by joking it is a beautiful British day - an apparent reference to the rainy conditions, which draws laughter.

He says he and his wife will never forget their visit to Windsor castle last year, and says the royals will have a wonderful short stay in the US.