King Charles Addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress in Washington
Photo: The Royal Household
King Charles addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress, following in his mother's footsteps. Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to do so in 1991.
King Charles addressed a Joint Meeting of the United States Congress, following in his mother's footsteps. In 1991, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address Congress.
King Charles at the rostrum in Congress in Washington. Photo: The British Royal Family
King Charles addressing a Joint Meeting of Congress. Photo: The British Royal Family
Queen Elizabeth II addressed Congress in 1991, the first British monarch to do so. Photo: The British Royal Family
During the State Dinner at the White House, the King spoke of the historic ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, and of the strength that comes from standing together.
"Tonight, we are here to renew an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens," King Charles said in his speech.
Excerpt from the King's address to Congress
"Mr. Speaker, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. I express my deepest gratitude for the honour of addressing this Joint Meeting of Congress, and thank the American people for welcoming the Queen and myself in this semi-quincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence.
We meet in times of great uncertainty, with conflicts from Europe to the Middle East. Despite our differences, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy and protect our people from harm.
It is extraordinary to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of Sovereigns to study, with daily attention, the affairs of America. I remember my mother, Queen Elizabeth, who in 1991 was afforded the same honour as I am today, and who spoke under the same Statue of Freedom that watches over us now.
Ours is a partnership born out of dispute, but no less strong for it. The very principle of 'no taxation without representation' was at once our fundamental disagreement and a shared democratic value you inherited from us.
This is my 20th visit to the United States, and my first as King. Magna Carta is cited in more than 160 Supreme Court cases, and our Declaration of Rights of 1689 provided the source of so many principles in the American Bill of Rights of 1791.
In an era more volatile and dangerous than the world my late Mother spoke to in this Chamber in 1991, our Alliance must be renewed. The United Kingdom has committed to the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War. We are building F-35s together and collaborating on the ambitious AUKUS submarine programme with Australia.
We stand with Ukraine, and 25 years after 9/11 we remember the victims. We trade $430 billion annually, have $1.7 trillion in mutual investment, and partner in nuclear fusion, quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
The story of our two Nations is a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership. Let us, on America's 250th birthday, rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world.
God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom."