The King's state visit to the United States next month is officially set to go ahead, Buckingham Palace has revealed.
Charles and Queen Camilla's historic visit to Washington and New York in April had faced calls to be scrapped or delayed because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. However, they will touch down in the US as planned to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence, before the King continues to Bermuda without Camilla.
Tuesday's official announcement read: "On advice of His Majesty’s Government, and at the invitation of The President of the United States, The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to the United States of America.
"Their Majesties’ programme will celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, marking the 250th anniversary of American Independence."
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The overseas tour had been highly anticipated for weeks, but until now it had not been officially announced or confirmed by the palace. The exact dates are yet to be confirmed, but the King and Queen will attend a state dinner at the White House and further details are expected shortly.
Despite this, US President Donald Trump declared the visit was going ahead earlier this month, saying the monarch was coming to see him "very shortly" and that he was "looking forward" to it.
Downing Street declined to set out when the visit might happen, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman telling reporters: "We’re just not going to comment on something that hasn’t yet been confirmed."
What will the state visit likely involve?
The state visit to the White House will likely include a formal banquet with speeches and Guards of Honour.
The US ambassador previously said the King has been asked to address both houses of the US Congress, the first time a British monarch has done so since Queen Elizabeth in 1991.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe King carries out state visits on government advice, so the decision about the visit going ahead is not down to him, but to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The visit to Bermuda will be His Majesty's first royal visit as monarch to a British Overseas Territory. Charles, 77, previously went to Bermuda in 1970, and the Queen went in 2009; however, the most recent visit there by a member of the royal family was the Duchess of Gloucester in October 2025.
Previous royal visits to the US
© Getty ImagesIn September last year, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania paid a state visit to the UK, enjoying a luxurious banquet at Windsor Castle attended by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The President had been hosted for a state visit by Queen Elizabeth in 2019 during his first term as president, and was invited back for a second term. A second state visit is not typical, with Sir Keir calling it "truly historic" and "unprecedented", after handing over the invitation during discussions for a UK-US trade deal.
Queen Elizabeth II undertook four state visits to the US in 1957, 1976, 1991, and 2007. Charles has visited the States 19 times as Prince of Wales.
Charles's youngest son, Prince Harry, with whom he has a troubled relationship, lives on the West Coast of the US with his wife the Duchess of Sussex and the King’s youngest grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Charles’s tour will raise questions over whether he will see Harry, whom he last met face-to-face six months ago, and reunite with Archie and Lili after four years apart.
