King Charles III to Address US Congress

King Charles III is scheduled to deliver an address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress during his visit to Washington D.C. in late April. This will mark the first time a British monarch has spoken before a joint session of U.S. lawmakers in more than three decades.

A Pivotal Moment for the US-UK “Special Relationship”

The invitation comes at a time of simmering tensions between the United States and the United Kingdom. Former President Donald Trump’s “America First” foreign policy previously raised questions about the U.S. commitment to its European allies. Britain has also refrained from supporting certain U.S. initiatives.

Bipartisan Support for the Address

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. In a letter, they stated, “The American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang.” They believe the address will provide a “unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history.”

State Visit Amidst Diplomatic Challenges

The state visit has faced some internal debate. Some members of Parliament in Britain called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel the visit in response to criticism from former President Trump regarding Britain’s stance on the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. However, Starmer decided to proceed with the visit, potentially aiming to de-escalate tensions.

Epstein Abuse Allegations and Calls for a Meeting

Beyond the broader geopolitical context, some U.S. lawmakers intend to use the occasion to address the issue of sexual abuse by financier Jeffrey Epstein. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna has written to King Charles requesting a private meeting between the monarch and survivors of abuse perpetrated by Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. “Survivors want this meeting,” Khanna stated in his letter.

Scrutiny of Epstein’s Ties

There has been significant scrutiny in Britain regarding Epstein’s connections to influential figures within the British government. Last year, Charles stripped his brother, Prince Andrew, of his royal titles and evicted him from his royal residence following pressure related to his association with Epstein. Some U.S. lawmakers have noted that the response to the Epstein scandal has been more extensive in Britain and other European countries 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.