King Charles III is scheduled to deliver a speech to a joint meeting of the US Congress in late April. This historic address will make him the first British monarch to speak before Congress in more than thirty years.

Reaffirming the US-UK Alliance

The upcoming state visit is intended to reaffirm the enduring alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom. This comes at a time of strained relations, influenced by differing foreign policy approaches and ongoing international conflicts.

Bipartisan Invitation

House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer jointly extended the invitation to King Charles III. They stated, “The American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang.” They believe the address will offer a valuable opportunity to discuss the future of the special relationship and reinforce the alliance.

Facing Domestic Opposition

The visit has encountered some opposition within Britain. Certain members of Parliament have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel the state visit in response to criticism from former President Donald Trump regarding Britain’s stance on international conflicts.

State Visit Proceeding

Despite the calls for cancellation, Prime Minister Starmer has decided to proceed with the state visit, potentially easing tensions related to ongoing conflicts. Historically, state visits by the British monarch have been utilized to strengthen international relations.

Additional Concerns Raised

Alongside the focus on the US-UK alliance, some US lawmakers intend to use the occasion to address other concerns. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has requested a meeting between King Charles III and survivors of abuse perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein Abuse Allegations

Khanna emphasized the survivors’ desire to speak directly with the King regarding failures by powerful individuals and institutions. The request follows intense scrutiny in Britain regarding Epstein’s connections to prominent figures within the British government. King Charles previously removed his brother, Prince Andrew, from royal duties due to his association with Epstein.

Some US lawmakers have noted that the response to the Epstein scandal has been more extensive in Britain and Europe than in the United States. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, and Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking.

Queen Elizabeth II was the last British monarch to address Congress, doing so in 1991.