On April 28, King Charles III of the United Kingdom will address a session of the U.S. Congress, becoming only the second British monarch to do so in history.
Congressional leaders have invited Charles to share his insights on U.S.-UK relations and to reaffirm the alliance during this pivotal moment in history. His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the first and only British monarch to speak before Congress, doing so in 1991.
According to NBC News, foreign leaders have addressed Congress 132 times, but royal addresses are rare. The majority of these speeches have been delivered by presidents and prime ministers.
During Queen Elizabeth II’s 1991 address, she walked down the central aisle of a packed House chamber, where most members refrained from shaking her hand, a customary gesture typically reserved for the president during the annual State of the Union address.
Her speech lasted approximately 15 minutes, concluding with the words, “God bless America.” Notably, she was permitted to wear a hat in the chamber, a practice usually prohibited. Her husband, Prince Philip, sat on the dais rather than in the gallery, where the president’s spouse typically sits.
Queen Elizabeth II’s address was met with protests from some members of Congress. A few Irish-American legislators, including Representative John Kennedy II (D-Massachusetts), boycotted her speech in protest against British policies in Northern Ireland.
In related news, it was confirmed that King Charles III’s visit to the U.S. will proceed as planned, despite a recent shooting incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. On April 27, Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the U.S., where they were welcomed by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House. This marks the first visit by a British monarch since 2007.
Charles and Camilla are scheduled to spend six days in the U.S., starting in Washington, D.C., before traveling to New York and Virginia.
King Charles III is set to address the U.S. Congress on April 28, making him only the second British monarch to do so. This visit follows a recent arrival in the U.S. with Queen Camilla, and they plan to spend six days in the country.