President Donald Trump bid a stirring farewell to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Thursday, capping off a historic four-day whirlwind tour with a glowing endorsement of the British monarchy. As the sun set on the first-ever state visit by the King and Queen, the President and First Lady Melania Trump rolled out the red carpet at the White House one last time for a final, formal send-off.
The bond between the two couples appeared stronger than ever as the Trumps waited on the portico to greet the royal motorcade, welcoming the King and Queen the moment they exited their vehicle. As they reemerged to exchange their final goodbyes, lip reader Nicola Hickling told the Daily Mail that she observed a remarkably candid exchange between the couples.
The First Lady also shared a poignant moment with King Charles, expressing her well-wishes for his family back in the United Kingdom. Melania was seen saying, 'Thank you. I wish you well and hope you have a good flight. Good luck with everything, and enjoy yourself.' She specifically requested that the King send her love to 'Catherine and William and their children,' before gently advising him to 'take some time for you.'
During their final moments together, President Trump was seen asking the King, 'Are you going to come to Turnberry in a few months?' King Charles laughed and replied, 'No, I'm not,' prompting Trump to persist with, 'Aww. Come over for a chat.' The King, scratching his neck, noted he had a 'busy schedule,' though Trump remained optimistic, saying, 'I will see you.' This prompted the King to ask, 'You mean what you say, don't you?' to which the President affirmed, 'I do, yes. I'll be coming over for a couple of weeks.'
Trump watched as the motorcade pulled away, later telling reporters, 'Great people. We need more people like that in our country.' As they shared a firm and warm handshake, Trump wished him well, saying, 'I wish you well and hope you have a good flight. Say hello to the family. Your visit was important to us.' Trump turned to Queen Camilla to offer his own parting words, telling her, 'It's been very good to have you here. Have a safe flight. I'd like to see you again when we come over,' a sentiment the Queen acknowledged with a nod.
As the royal car began to move, Queen Camilla rolled down her window and waved goodbye again to the Trumps, a final gesture of friendship before departing the executive mansion. The departure brings an end to four days during which King Charles followed in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who made four state visits to the US during her record-breaking reign.
The trip was filled with significant milestones, including a somber pilgrimage to the National 9/11 Memorial on Wednesday, where the King and Queen honored the victims of the 2001 terror attacks. Earlier in the week, Charles delivered a truly historic speech to Congress, navigating delicate international tensions and celebrating America's upcoming semi-quincentennial, marking 250 years of independence. The royals are finishing their trip by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, attending a parade and block party in Front Royal and then capping it off by visiting Shenandoah National Park.
