King Charles III is scheduled to deliver an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress during a visit to Washington D.C. later this April. This event is taking place against a backdrop of increasing tension between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Reaffirming the Alliance

The invitation to address Congress was extended by a bipartisan group of congressional leaders. House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer jointly penned a letter to Charles, stating, “The American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang.”

The leaders further expressed their belief that the address would offer “a unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history.”

Political Context and Potential for Easing Tensions

The visit occurs as some in the United Kingdom have questioned the strength of the U.S. commitment to its European allies, particularly following the “America First” foreign policy approach of former President Donald Trump. Additionally, Britain’s decision not to support U.S. involvement in the conflict with Iran has drawn criticism.

Some members of Parliament have even called for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to cancel the state visit in response to Trump’s criticism of the UK’s stance on the war. However, Starmer has decided to proceed with the visit, potentially aiming to mitigate the resulting tensions.

A Historical Parallel and Additional Concerns

State visits by British monarchs have historically been utilized to strengthen international relations. Queen Elizabeth II last addressed the U.S. Congress in 1991.

Epstein Abuse Investigation

Beyond the geopolitical considerations, some U.S. lawmakers intend to use the occasion to raise concerns about the Jeffrey Epstein case. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna has written to King Charles requesting a meeting with survivors of abuse perpetrated by Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.

“I respectfully ask that you privately meet with survivors…so they may speak to you directly about the ways powerful individuals and institutions failed them,” Khanna stated in his letter. There has been significant 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 and evicted him from his 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 by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial, and Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking.