Prior to the event, Trump was delighted by a British media report suggesting he has a royal connection.

According to an article in the Daily Mail, the president’s Scottish ancestry allegedly links him to the current monarch, prompting Trump to jest about possibly residing in the iconic home of the British royal family.

“I’ve always dreamed of living in Buckingham Palace! I’ll discuss this with the King and Queen shortly! President DJT,” he quipped.

Today marks a historic moment as Charles becomes the first British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 to address the US Congress. His mother’s speech emphasized the historical ties and democratic values shared by both nations, a message Charles is expected to echo.

These addresses are a privilege reserved for influential global figures like Pope Francis, Václav Havel, and Winston Churchill.

This will likely be Charles’s most significant public statement during his four-day visit to the United States, aligning with the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary of independence from Britain.

House Speaker Mike Johnson became the first sitting leader of his chamber to address the UK parliament earlier this year. He attended a garden party with the king in Washington on Monday and said he told him he would be “well received” in Congress.

Under grey, drizzly skies, Trump quipped that it was a “beautiful British day”. The king shook hands with members of Trump’s Cabinet and joined the president for a rendition of the national anthem.

In his welcome remarks, Trump highlighted the shared history between the two countries and sought to draw a line from King John’s sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215 to the American Revolution.

“American patriots today can sing, ‘My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty,’ only because our colonial ancestors first sang, ‘God save the King,’” Trump said.

The two leaders huddled in the Oval Office for a meeting that was closed to the public, reducing the potential for the freewheeling, sometimes controversial meetings with foreign officials that have become routine during Trump’s second term.

Given the expressly apolitical nature of the British monarch and Trump’s fondness for the royal family, the likelihood of an awkward meeting was likely reduced anyway.

Afterward, Trump said it was a “really good meeting” and Charles is a “fantastic person”.

While the gentlemen met, the ladies attend a cross-cultural educational event at the White House Tennis Pavilion.

Trump will host the royal couple on Tuesday evening for a state banquet at the White House.

The visit comes at a challenging moment for US-UK relations. Trump’s up-and-down relationship with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a particularly sour turn over the past several months as the Republican president has sought to rally international support for the war in Iran.

Trump criticised Starmer, who has largely resisted his overtures, by saying “this is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with”.

Trump has also imposed tariffs on the UK and warned of additional levies despite a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that has made such unilateral moves more challenging.

Trump threatened just last week to slap a “big tariff” on the UK if it doesn’t scrap a digital services tax on US technology companies.

Meanwhile, Charles has faced some calls on Capitol Hill to meet with victims of Jeffrey Epstein while he is in the US.

There’s no indication that he will do so even as the scandal involving the convicted sex offender has ensnared his brother, who was arrested in February over misconduct allegations, which he denies.

Charles and Camilla arrived at the nation’s capital on Monday and held a tea with the president and first lady Melania Trump. The royal couple will continue their US trip later this week with stops in New York City and Virginia.

– Reported with Associated Press.

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