The Global Story

Former British ambassador to the United States, Lord Kim Darroch, expressed cautious optimism that the arrival of King Charles may help rehabilitate the strained relationship between the UK and US.

Speaking on Saturday at a live recording of the Global Story Podcast, Darroch called King Charles "a naturally accomplished diplomat" and said the two countries still "have a huge amount in common".

Darroch, however, acknowledged the broken trust between the nations, saying "you can’t imagine Reagan or Clinton or Obama threatening the UK" as President Trump has with tariffs.

You can listen to the full episode of The Global Story here.

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent in Washington DC

Among the guests at the embassy garden party were women representing groups campaigning against domestic violence and violence against women and girls.

Sandra Jackson, chief executive of the House of Ruth, which supports victims, met Queen Camilla, who has herself campaigned against domestic violence.

"It’s very important to have such advocates and it’s a cause very close to her heart," she said, after telling the Queen about her work.

There have been calls for the King and Queen to meet survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But that hasn’t happened because of concerns about jeopardising the legal processes.

Jackson said she "respected their decision" and welcomed the attention that Queen Camilla was bringing to the subject.

Another campaigner, Michelle DeLaune, one of a group talking to the Queen, said it was a sign of progress that such a prominent figure was talking publicly about the issue and raising its significance.

Image source, Reuters

The King and Queen have now left the garden party, which was held at the British embassy.

Hundreds of people gathered at the event, including top Trump administration officials as well as the retired British Olympic diver Tom Daley.

That's the end of the official programme for today, ahead of a very busy day on Tuesday.

Image source, Reuters

Up to 3,000 sandwiches have been prepared for the Royal garden party, with about 650 people attending.

Head Chef at the British Embassy Craig Harnden revealed British beef - that has recently had tariffs dropped by the US - is being used for one of the sandwiches.

"We'll be doing four types of sandwiches, so Scottish smoked salmon we're using and we'll just do a very simple lemon butter, black pepper, brown bread, done," he said in a video shared on social media.

"We're also doing a roast beef and horseradish sandwich and not normally traditionally involved in the afternoon tea flavour, however, we do have the first imports of British beef, which I'm more than happy to use for this special occasion, bend the rules a little bit.

"Egg mayonnaise is a classic, just nicely boiled eggs, a little bit of mayonnaise, black pepper and salt.

"And then a cucumber sandwich is one of the simplest ones. Now we do make it a little bit more interesting by pickling the cucumbers slightly so the sweetness and acidity into the sandwich makes it a little bit more interesting.

"And traditionally scones, so we'll bake the scone about an hour and a half before service so nice fresh and warm. Clotted cream, strawberry jam and a nice strawberry on top, done."

The King and Queen have been pictured in a motorcade leaving the White House. They are on their way to a garden party at the British embassy.

Image source, Reuters

The King and Queen have now been shown around the second White House of the visit, this one being for bees.

The president and first lady have given their royal visitors a tour of the White House south lawn, which includes a newly-expanded beehive in the shape of the White House.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA

Image source, Pool

We're now seeing images of the King and Queen chatting with their hosts in front a painting depicting President Trump following the attempt on his life in July 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Trump's ear was grazed by a bullet in this assassination attempt, while just two days ago the White House Correspondents' Dinner was targeted by a shooter who has today been charged with attempting to assassinate the president.

Image source, Getty Images

This is the moment President Trump and the first lady greeted the King and Queen as they arrived at the White House at the start of their four-day state visit the US.

Our royal correspondent in Washington writes this is a significant state visit to the US and the biggest diplomatic challenge of King Charles’s reign.

We're now seeing images of the King and Queen sitting down for tea with the president and first lady at the White House.

The spread appears to feature finger sandwiches, cakes, honey, with a pot of tea being poured by a staff member.

Image source, Pool

Image source, Pool

Image source, Reut

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been invited into the White House with US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Before entering the building, the four stood in a line posing for the waiting media, with the King and Trump appearing to exchange friendly remarks.

The president and first lady will now host a private tea, with a garden party to be held later.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have just arrived at the White House.

They're being greeted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

You can watch live at the top of this page.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Today's visit marks the first British state visit to the US since Queen Elizabeth II's trip in 2007.

The six-day visit saw the late Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, meeting the then-US President George W Bush.

The Queen was honoured with a 21-gun salute ahead of a state banquet and visited a replica of the largest ship to carry English settlers across the Atlantic in 1606.

In a speech delivered at the banquet, the Queen toasted the UK-US relationship.

Her visit marked the 400th anniversary of the country's first permanent English settlement.

A high-stakes US visit for the Kingpublished at 20:51 BST

20:51 BST

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent in Washington DC

Image source, Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Thorny political relations

While the US president is a self-avowed fan of the royals, he regularly criticises the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, and dismissed UK aircraft carriers as "toys" compared with US equivalents. The King is, of course, the head of the British Armed Forces.

'Delicate balancing act'

State visits are carried out on behalf of the government, and royal sources recognise this trip is going to be a "delicate balancing act", but say there's a bigger picture of long-term US and UK friendship.

"Yes, we face current challenges, but the visit will also seek to celebrate our nations' historic ties and create the conditions for that partnership to continue long into the future," says a royal source.

The King's brother Andrew

There's personal pressure on the King too. After the scandal involving his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, it's highly likely that survivors of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will be giving interviews complaining that the royal visitors are not meeting them during the visit.

Queen Camilla will be meeting campaigners against domestic abuse during her engagements.

Trump's admiration for the King:

Trump has been steadfast in his admiration for the monarchy and King Charles.

"I know him well, I've known him for years," the president told the BBC last week about the King. "He's a brave man, and he's a great man."

Whether or not that admiration is reciprocated is hard to say. Because when you ask insiders about how the King sees Trump, they tend to repeat how much Trump admires the King.

Read more in this full story.

Both the Palace and UK government are very aware of the jeopardy of this trippublished at 20:28 BST

20:28 BST

Daniela Relph
Reporting from Joint Base Andrews

At this moment in time, when you look at the two personalities of the men involved, it's hard to find a time when on paper they have felt further apart.

In the King you have a quiet, cautious, restrained kind of character who largely plays by the rules.

In President Trump you have someone who is much looser, who shoots from the hip, someone who is a little less predictable.

Both Buckingham Palace and the UK government are very aware of the jeopardy of this trip.

That is why, when you look at the detail of the programme, some of that jeopardy has really been squeezed out.

There aren't many moments - I counted just five - when we will see the president and the King together.

So there is an element of management.

The four day itinerary will see the royal couple welcomed at a formal ceremony at the White House and conduct a ceremonial military review.

First on the agenda, however, is an informal welcome by President Trump and the first lady.

They will host a private tea before the King and Queen attend a garden party with a wider array of guests.

Image source, Getty Images

Royal commentator Caroline Aston has just been speaking to BBC News.

She says, for someone still living with cancer, the state visit's "cost in physical and mental terms will be high" for King Charles.

"It just shows what a trooper he is and how he's very much inherited his late mother's spirit of service and duty," Aston says.

It's worth remembering that the King is 77 years old and is the oldest person to ascend to the British throne, she adds.