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King Charles Addresses US Congress, First Monarch Since 1991

4/29/2026

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Summary

Story summary

King Charles III addressed a joint session of Congress on April 28, the first British monarch to do so since 1991.
The state visit marks the U.S. 250th independence anniversary and aims to steady the strained U.S.–U.K. alliance over Iran.
Security tightened after a White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting, prompting the king’s speech on democracy, NATO, Ukraine, climate change and Magna Carta checks, which drew bipartisan applause.

History

Historical Context

During a state visit in May 1991, Queen Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on 16 May, hosted by President George H. W. Bush. That precedent established a diplomatic ritual that later monarchs, including King Charles III, have invoked to reinforce the U.S.–U.K. alliance within NATO and broader security cooperation.

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Story summary

King Charles III addressed a joint session of Congress on April 28, the first British monarch to do so since 1991.
The state visit marks the U.S. 250th independence anniversary and aims to steady the strained U.S.–U.K. alliance over Iran.
Security tightened after a White House Correspondents’ dinner shooting, prompting the king’s speech on democracy, NATO, Ukraine, climate change and Magna Carta checks, which drew bipartisan applause.

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