TODAY'S ROYAL NEWS
- King Charles' US state visit begins
- Princess Anne will present NATO operational medals at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. She will attend a Worldwide Graduation Ceremony at the Barbican Centre
- King's Day in the Netherlands.
- Prince Edward will visit Montrose Port Authority, the Community Trust, and the Arbikie Distillery.
- Royal Editor Emily Nash's opinion piece: Why this could be the King’s biggest challenge yet
- Watch an exclusive look Inside the US Royal Visit
King Charles and Queen Camilla's first appearance
King Charles and Queen Camilla have officially kickstarted their US state visit.
© Getty ImagesThe royals were pictured disembarking their plane after touching down in the US half an hour earlier than scheduled.
Camilla looks lovely for the sunny day out in Washington in a sophisticated pink coat dress, courtesy of Dior. Meanwhile, the King has opted for a navy pinstriped suit for the first day formalities.
King Charles shakes hands on arrival
After stepping off the plane, King Charles stopped to shake hands as the royals were formally greeted at the airport, flanked by Sir Christian Turner, the new British Ambassador, and his wife Lady Turner, as well as other senior members of the embassy team.
© Getty Images
© AFP via Getty ImagesThe royal couple will next head to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for the first day of the four-day visit.
King Charles and Queen Camilla receive flowers from children of British military families in the US
King Charles and Queen Camilla received flowers upon their arrival from the children of British military families based in the United States.
The royals were each handed a bouquet of posies once they stepped off the plane.
© Getty ImagesKing Charles and Queen Camilla walk the red carpet
After disembarking their plane, King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted by US Chief of Protocol, Monica Crowley.
The royal couple then made their way down the red carpet.
© Getty Images
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Camilla's special brooch with historic ties to the late Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Camilla arrived in the US with a special brooch pinned to her pink coat dress that has ties to her late mother-in-law. The Cartier brooch, which features the Union Jack and the United States' Stars and Stripes, is platinum set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds.
It was first gifted to the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1957 during her first state visit to the US as Queen. The brooch was created and presented to the late royal at a luncheon hosted by the former New York City Mayor, Robert F. Wagner Jr.
© Getty ImagesKing Charles gets ready to meet President Trump
King Charles is getting ready to head to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump. After a formal greeting, the King made his way to a limousine that awaited the royals.
© Getty ImagesCharles and Camilla will continue on to Washington for a tea with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to begin their four-day visit.
Handover
That's all from me!
Handing over to Beatriz Colon in New York for more on the US state visit.
Next on the docket
Queen Camilla and King Charles are officially in the U.S.
Next on the schedule for the evening following their arrival is tea with Melania Trump and Donald Trump — who are in the midst of a freshly launched investigation into the alleged White House Correspondents' Dinner shooter, Cole Allen — followed by a garden party later in the evening.
Stay tuned, as we'll take you along for it all.
The Trumps welcome the royals
Donald and Melania Trump welcomed the royals through the South Portico of the White House, with the first lady wearing a butter yellow ensemble from Adam Lippes, while the Queen has changed into a white chiffon dress with black beaded embroidery by Anna Valentine, a swift change from the Pink Dior jacket she wore upon landing in D.C.
© Getty ImagesAn interesting visit
It's an interesting time for the royals to be visiting the US in more ways than one: they are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States, signified by their defeat of England in the American revolution; it comes amid fractious relations between the two countries; and, of course, it has been two days since the third attempted assassination of Donald Trump, just as suspect Cole Allen has been charged with attempted murder and other gun-related charges.
© Getty Images87 years since the last garden party
It has been 87 years since there was last a garden party hosted at the British Ambassador's residence, which houses the embassy, the last being in 1939, one hosted by Queen Elizabeth and her father, King George V1, which marked the first visit of a reigning royal since the U.S. declared independence from the United Kingdom.
This marks King Charles 19th visit to the United States.
Handing over again
That is it from me, but sit tight as the 650-person private garden party kicks off soon.
HELLO!'s Faye James will be taking you along through that and more of this historic state visit.
Building bridges
King Charles's visit will hopefully also concomitantly build bridges between Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, of whom the president has made several remarks amid his refusal to support the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Trump told reporters earlier in April that the UK had "a long way to go," adding: "We won't want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We don't want Neville Chamberlain," seemingly comparing Starmer to the famously Nazi-appeasing former prime minister.
Show of solidarity
Charles is expected to make brief reference to the gun attack at a Washington dinner tonight and in a show of solidarity and support offer “the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States” on the 250th anniversary of American independence.
It is only the second time a British monarch has addressed a joint meeting of Congress, the first being the late Queen Elizabeth in 1991.
In a nod to recent tensions, Charles will reflect that while the UK and US have not always agreed on all matters over the past 250 years, the foundations of their "democratic, legal and social traditions" – stretching all the way back to the Magna Carta – are such that "time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together".
He is also set to point out how the US and UK have stood together through moments that have defined their shared history and that "our defence, intelligence and security ties are measured not in years but in decades".
Charles shares a joke with Melania
In a rare display of joy, Melania shared a laugh with King Charles as they toured the White House Beehive on the South Lawn of the White House.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe garden party kicks off
President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, King Charles III and Queen Camilla pictured at White House garden and bee hive on the South Lawn of the White House. Guests were treated to four types of sandwiches including Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and horseradish sandwiches using imported British cuts, egg mayonnaise, and lightly pickled cucumber, followed by scones.
© Getty ImagesCamilla poses with young cadets
Queen Camilla looked poised and on form as she posed with military cadets during the garden Party. Before the garden party began Camilla confessed she was “quite jet lagged” when she met organisers of a time capsule created to mark America’s 250th anniversary celebrations this year, and saw some of its contents with the King.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageCamilla meets Washington DC child exploitation and domestic violence charities
Representatives form four Washington DC child exploitation and domestic violence charities attended the garden party to meet the Queen.Greeting the women Camilla said: “Nice to meet you, wish we had longer to talk.”
Afterwards Sandra Jackson, CEO of charity House of Ruth women’s shelter, praised Camilla as “someone able to give notoriety this cause.”
She added: “She thanked us for our work and hoped progress is being made and build on progress for the future.”“It was nice to be able to thank her for what she has done and bringing attention to this cause.”
Asked if the King and Queen should have met victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, she said: “I respect their decision.”Michelle DeLaune CEO of National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children praised the Queen as ‘wonderful’ for ‘raising awareness’ and ‘get dialogue going’.
She added: “There are many people suffering in silence and having people, someone like her, to look up to gives a sense it’s not so isolating.”
Asked about whether the King and Queen should have met victims and survivors of Epstein, she said: “I think it has to be a choice of individuals, for King and Queen.“I think the voices of victims and survivors are not only heard but progress made, we will continue working to ensure we are bringing voices loud and clear.”
Charities My Sister’s Place, DC Safe and DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence were also at the garden party held at the UK Ambassador's residence.
© Getty ImagesTom Daley makes an appearance
Olympic diver and celebrity knitter Tom Daley was also among the 650 guests as well as footy ace Esme Morgan, Lioness World Cup winning star, who plays for Washington Spirit.
Tom, 31, who now lives in LA with his husband and two children, jetted in for the day to attend the garden party.
He said: “Knitting is my outlet for all my creativity, my mindfulness and my meditation and the King has tried knitting many a time.“
He added he tried knitting when he was eight and he wasn’t very good but he said he might pick it back up - he knows it’s very good for mental health.
“But I want to try and get it back into the school curriculum and maybe he can help me do that.”
© Getty ImagesSigning off
It's 11pm in Washington now so signing off for the night. Best Quality Designer Handbag 's Royal Editor Emily Nash will be back online first thing tomorrow to cover off Day two. Good night!
