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Garden party in Washington gathers hundreds of guests in effort to strengthen transatlantic relations
King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up the first day of their historic visit to the United States with a lavish garden party for 650 guests in Washington. The lavish party was held in their honor at the British Ambassador's residence in Washington as the first day of their visit drew to a close. The event brought together prominent British and American figures, including politicians and dignitaries, as well as philanthropists and sports stars, as the British monarch seeks to strengthen strained transatlantic relations.
King Charles hosted the garden party hours after landing at Joint Base Andrews, where he was greeted with gifts and a military band as he stepped off the plane and walked down a red carpet. Charles, 77, and his wife Camilla were then driven by motorcade to the White House, where they were welcomed by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania. The royal couple had tea in the Green Room and were taken to the garden to see a beehive, which was recently rebuilt into a miniature version of the White House, before attending a party at the British Embassy.
Guests enjoyed 3,000 hand-made sandwiches of Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and horseradish sandwiches, made with British products imported duty-free under new trade agreements, as well as egg mayonnaise, pickles and traditional English scones.
Among those in attendance were Olympic diving champion Tom Daley and soccer player Esme Morgan, a world champion with England and currently a member of the Washington Spirit. From a political perspective, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senator Ted Cruz, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and current Speaker Mike Johnson were also in attendance.
An enthusiastic crowd gathered around the king as he moved through the garden. Also among the guests were Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, commentator Kellyanne Conway, Republican Congressman Michael McCaul and former Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. The relaxed atmosphere under the sun did not reflect the tensions in bilateral relations.
The four-day visit comes as part of the 250th anniversary of US independence, but against a backdrop of a diplomatic rift over President Trump's policy on Iran and security concerns following a shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel over the weekend. A gunman opened fire, forcing Secret Service agents to remove the president from the room. Authorities believe he and members of the administration were potential targets, prompting an urgent review of security measures ahead of the king's visit.
According to The Guardian, the king's motto is "keep calm and carry on." Buckingham Palace announced that the visit was made after consultations with American authorities, thanking those who worked to ensure its development.
On Tuesday (April 28), the king is expected to address a state banquet at the White House and deliver a rare address to the US Congress. He is expected to emphasize that, while the two countries have not always seen eye to eye, shared democratic and legal traditions have consistently brought them closer.
The king will also briefly mention the gun incident and express “the highest esteem and friendship of the British people to the American people.” This is only the second time a British monarch has addressed a joint session of Congress, after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.
He will then travel to New York to visit the September 11 memorial and then to Virginia, where he will meet with environmental organizations, supporting a cause he has promoted for more than 50 years.
However, some British politicians are concerned that the visit could lead to awkward situations, especially in the context of Trump's recent statements about Pope Leo XIV and criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Also, leaks from the Pentagon about a review of support for British sovereignty in the Falkland Islands have added to the concerns.
President Trump has publicly separated his appreciation for the king from his criticism of the British government, calling Charles "a great man" and "a friend," and suggesting that his presence could help stabilize relations.
British Ambassador to the US, Christian Turner, told CBS that relations between the two countries have weathered crises before, but have remained strong thanks to their deep foundation in security and cooperation.
At the same time, the issue of Prince Andrew and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein is also back in the spotlight. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna called on the king to meet with the victims, but British authorities have ruled out such a possibility for legal reasons.
This is Charles' first official visit to the US as king, although he has visited the country 19 times before. In interpretation, the visit aims to maintain stability in US-UK relations at a challenging political and diplomatic moment. /Pamphlet/
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