King Charles III and Queen Camilla land in the US ahead of a four-day state visit - watch live above
They were gifted bouquets of flowers by two young children as they stepped out of the plane - here's a look at their warm welcome in pictures
UK ambassador to the US Christian Turner and the White House's head of protocol Monica Crowley are on the runway to greet them as the UK and US national anthems ring out
This is going to be a very significant state visit and the biggest diplomatic challenge of King Charles's reign, writes our royal correspondent
The Palace says the programme will go ahead largely as planned and further security talks have taken place after a gunman gained access to an event attended by Trump on Saturday
The King and Queen have now departed Joint Base Andrews, and will soon be arriving at the White House to meet US President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.
There, they will be greeted for a private tea, before attending a garden party.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersAfter walking through a military guard of honour, a military band plays both the US and UK national anthems to the King and Queen.
The pair now enter a black car parked on the runway of the air base, before departing.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Reuters
Image source, Getty ImagesThe King and Queen are now being greeted by the welcoming party on the red carpet as they disembark the plane.
The pair were gifted flowers by two young children before being greeted by UK ambassador to the US Sir Christian Turner and the White House's head of protocol, Monica Crowley.
Image source, ReutersKing Charles and Queen Camilla can now be seen descending the stairs of the aircraft for their US visit, the first undertaken by a British monarch since 2007.
Several dignitaries, a guard of honour and a military band are there to meet them.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will greet them at the White House later.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Image source, ReutersThe King and Queen are shortly due to depart the plane, marking the start of their four-day US state visit.
You can watch live above.
Image source, POOL
Image source, POOL
Image source, POOL
Image source, ReutersKing Charles III and Queen Camilla have just landed in the US.
They will soon be disembarking their plane and beginning their four-day state visit.
You can watch live at the top of this page.
We're seeing the first images now of a red carpet that is being rolled out at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, ahead of the King and Queen's arrival.
A military band and honour guard are also pictured.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Washington DC
Image source, ReutersSecret Service police officers responded to the shooting incident over the weekend
Security was always going to be very tight for this state visit. After the gun attack in Washington DC at the weekend, it’s going to be even more intense.
The set-piece events in Washington DC, at the White House and the Capitol building, will be inside a security bubble.
That includes protection by the secret service. And to UK eyes, it seems strange how visible the secret service are - with uniforms labelled “Secret Service” and black cars with “Secret Service” written on them.
For the press pack travelling with the state visit, as so often on these high profile events, there will be many hours spent queuing for security checks.
It also remains to be seen whether the security scare will reduce any interactions with the public, as the King often likes to have a chance to meet the crowds on these visits.
Image source, ReutersPresident Trump has said the King will "be very safe" during his visit to the US after further security talks took place between the White House and Buckingham Palace following a shooting at an event attended by the president over the weekend.
The incident took place at the at White House correspondents' dinner which was attended by members of the administration, journalists and other public figures.
The president and vice-president were safely evacuated with the suspected gunman, since named as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, from Torrance, California, arrested at the scene.
The alleged gunman had managed to gain access to the event at the Washington Hilton hotel.
The King and Queen privately reached out to the Trumps to give their sympathies after the attack, during which a Secret Service agent was lightly injured.
Trump has since said that the grounds of the White House, where King Charles will visit, are "really safe", while a statement released by Buckingham Palace said the visit will "proceed as planned" with some minor adjustments.
Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent, reporting from Washington DC
This is going to be a very significant state visit to the United States and the biggest diplomatic challenge of King Charles’s reign.
The relationship between the UK and US has been badly damaged in recent months, with President Trump criticising UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the UK’s unwillingness to get involved in the US war in Iran.
But President Trump still admires the King and the monarchy - and it’s that connection that the King will have to use to help repair the battered UK and US partnership.
State visits are carried out on behalf of the government, and the King will have the tricky diplomatic balancing act of staying friendly with Trump, while at the same time staying true to his own beliefs and representing the aims of the UK government.
Image source, PA MediaKing Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to arrive the US for a state visit in which the King will become the second British monarch to deliver an address to Congress.
The trip comes after a shooting on Saturday at a gala dinner attended by US President Donald Trump and other members of his administration.
Further security talks surrounding the visit have taken place but Buckingham Palace outlined the itinerary will remain largely unchanged. Trump has since said the King will be kept "very safe".
The state visit also comes during a period of strained US-UK relations over the Iran war, with Trump telling the BBC last week the visit could "absolutely" help repair the relationship.
The royal couple will be in the States from today until 30 April, attending a White House ceremony, garden party and private tea with the president and his wife Melania, among other engagements, during their two days in DC.
The King will also address Congress, following in his mother Queen Elizabeth II's footsteps, before he and Camilla head to New York where their diary includes an event commemorating 9/11 and a visit to a community project in Harlem.
There will also be a visit to Virginia for an event marking the 250th anniversary of American independence. After the US engagements the King will pay a visit to Bermuda, before returning to the UK.
We will bring you all of the key moments as they happen, and analysis from our correspondents on both sides of the Atlantic.
