US President Donald Trump praised King Charles for his 'great speech' at Congress, confessing it had made him 'very jealous'. The monarch received a rapturous reception during his 28-minute address at the Joint Meeting of Congress in Washington.
Rapturous Reception
Charles was given a dozen standing ovations from across the political divide, as he gave a masterclass in diplomacy, referencing the special relationship between Britain and the United States.
Welcoming Charles and Camilla back to the White House this evening, ahead of a glittering State Dinner, Trump and First Lady Melania warmly greeted the royal couple at the South Portico of the historic building. As the two couples stopped and posed for pictures, the president pointed to the King and said: 'He made a great speech. I was very jealous.'
State Dinner Celebrations
Before the dinner, organised to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the King made a further address where he said that the US character is defined throughout history by 'courage, tenacity and the spirit of adventure'. Charles went on to reference the many meetings between Presidents and British sovereigns over the decades.
In his ten-minute speech he added: '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. Across the ocean and from coast to coast, we have traded, innovated and created together. We have stood together in the best of times and worst of times.'
The King once again referenced the shocking incident on Saturday night where an armed gunman broke through security and attempted to run towards the ballroom of the Washington Hilton hotel, where Trump and Melania were special guests at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Charles also saluted both the actions of security services in preventing further injury and the President's determination to carry on.
Symbolic Gift
As a symbol of friendship to mark the occasion renewal, the King gifted the president the original bell from the Conning Tower of HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine that fought in the Battle of the Pacific in WW2. The gift echoed that given by the late Queen Elizabeth II who on the bicentennial anniversary of American independence gifted the Liberty Bell on her visit to the US in 1976.
Giving it to the President, Charles said it was a sign of 'our shared history and shining future', quipping 'if you ever need to get hold of us….just give us a ring'. In a concluding toast, the King thanked the President for a wonderful dinner, remarking it was a 'considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party'. On December 16, 1773, as a political protest by American colonists against British 'taxation without representation' and the Tea Act, which granted a monopoly to the East India Company.
