King Charles III will address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on April 28 during an official state visit to the United States, congressional leaders announced.
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In a joint statement on Tuesday, senior lawmakers said the speech will mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence and highlight the long-standing partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The invitation was issued by Mike Johnson, John Thune, Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.
Lawmakers said the address will reflect on the historical ties between the two nations while offering a platform for the monarch to outline his view of the future relationship.
Historic address planned during state visit
The statement noted that the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence this year and said the country’s founding ideals were influenced in part by British political traditions.
Leaders said the speech would provide an opportunity to reaffirm the alliance between the two countries and underline cooperation at a time of global uncertainty.
Visit scheduled for late April
Donald Trump said the state visit will take place from April 27 to April 30.
The trip comes as Washington and London manage tensions within the transatlantic alliance, particularly over the conflict involving Iran. The dispute has highlighted divisions within North Atlantic Treaty Organization about whether member states should take part in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military campaign.
Britain, a longstanding NATO member, has resisted calls to join the conflict.
Starmer rejects pressure to enter Iran conflict
Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, said the United Kingdom remains committed to NATO but will not alter its stance on the war.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Starmer said his government would continue to act based on British national interests. He said London faced pressure to take part in the conflict but insisted the United Kingdom would not change its position.
The remarks came as Trump said he was considering withdrawing the United States from NATO, a move that would represent a major shift in the Western security alliance.
Legal limits on NATO withdrawal
U.S. lawmakers moved in 2023 to restrict a president’s ability to leave the alliance unilaterally.
Under legislation passed by Congress, any decision to withdraw from NATO must either receive approval from two-thirds of the Senate or be authorised through a separate act of Congress.
The measure was designed to ensure continued legislative oversight over major shifts in U.S. foreign policy and the country’s role in the alliance.
King Charles’s address will place the British monarch before Congress at a moment of political and security tensions across the transatlantic partnership, even as both governments emphasise the historic ties linking the two countries.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 2 April 2026
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