US State Visit Day 2: King Charles and Trump trade jokes at white tie dinner

Good morning, King Charles and Queen Camilla landed in the United States yesterday to start their State Visit. Today marks the first full day of their visit, and it will kick off with a ceremonial welcome.

Later on, the King will have a bilateral meeting with the President, while Camilla will carry out a joint engagement with First Lady Melania Trump. It's a busy day for the royals, as there's also scheduled to be a joint address to Congress and later this evening, they will be the guests of honour at a State Banquet.

However, it's not a quiet day back here in the UK, as Prince William will visit the RAF Valley in Anglesey for its 85th anniversary, Princess Anne is at the National Theatre before attending a dinner at Brook's and a luncheon at St James's Palace.

Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh is attending the Loft Youth Project, Aberlour Glebe Garden and Gordonstoun School. He will also visit Johnstons of Elgin Mill and St Giles Church in Moray, and finally, the Duchess of Gloucester is holding a reception at Windsor Castle.

HELLO!'s Royal Editor, Emily Nash, is on the ground for this historic state visit, and for Best Quality Designer Handbag VIP members, she has given an insight into what will be happening over the course of today. Sign up now and give it a click!

It's not just the British royals who are having a big day, as Jordan's Princess Rajwa is celebrating her birthday. See the sweet way the royal marked her special day...

Queen Rania gave a sweet tribute to her daughter-in-law, sharing a glamorous photo of the pair together. In the caption, she wrote: "Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Rajwa! So grateful for the warmth and joy you bring into our lives every day."

Crown Prince Christian has taken on some major responsibility this week as he is serving as Regent of Denmark, essentially the acting monarch. He takes on the role until 1 May with King Fredrick and Queen Mary away on a private holiday.

© Kongehuset

The Duchess of Sussex recently spoke of a "difficult seven years" as she opened up about astrology. Meghan, who is an Leo, shared a post celebrating the end of a rough time for people with that star sign, alongside those who are an Aquarius, Taurus or Scorpio.

However, astrologer and psychic Inbaal Honigman has spoken to Best Quality Designer Handbag and dismissed what Meghan was saying about her star sign. Here's what Inbaal really thinks...

Queen Letizia had a busy day as she held a reception as she hosted at the Zarzuela Palace a representation of members and experts from the Legislative Observatory on Rare Diseases and Orphan Drugs as the group marked its fifth anniversary.

© Europa Press via Getty Images

The Prince of Wales was back in Anglesey on Tuesday as he marked the RAF Valley bases's 85th anniversary. William was seen in his combat fatigues and red beret as he  presented the Prince of Wales Award, which recognises the best Qualified Flying Instructor within the No. 4 Flying Training School. This regiment trains the UK's next generation of fighter pilots as well as training crews for mountain and ocean missions.

© Getty Images

Princess Ariane, the youngest daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, is coming to the end of her gap year, and the royal teenager has revealed what her next steps are. Find out all you need to know here...

© Getty Images

Good afternoon all! 

I'm Eleanor, HELLO!'s acting online royal correspondent, and I'll be taking things from here!

We've still got a lot to come, and we're getting more from Prince William's visit in shortly. Over in the US, meanwhile, the second day of King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit will shortly be getting underway. 

Stay tuned! 

We love this photograph of Prince William taking a salute during his visit to RAF Valley today. 

The Prince of Wales is wearing a camouflage uniform as he inspects the 85th anniversary parade, before presenting the Prince of Wales award and meeting trainees. 

The outing comes amid King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to the US. 

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Pala

Royal public displays of affection are typically a no-no, but Prince William and Kate are occasionally known to have indulged in a spot of PDA. 

In fact, several sweet moments between the couple have been caught on camera over the years, and we've rounded up the best of them. 

There's 21 adorable photographs to look at in this incredible feature piece, which you can read now. 

© Getty Images

Look away if you're afraid of heights!

King Felipe of Spain flew a helicopter today as he piloted the naval version of the NH-90. 

The monarch visited the Aircraft Flotilla (FLOAN), the Survival Centre (CESUPAR) and the Navy's Internal Security Training Centre (CASI) at Naval Base Rota (Cadiz) today. 

It reminded us a lot of Prince William, who is also carrying out a military visit today and is also a skilled helicopter pilot! 

Prince Edward has returned to his old school, Gordonstoun, this afternoon. 

The Duke of Edinburgh, who studied for his A-levels at the school, formally unveiled a new banner and marked the 70th anniversary celebrations of the DofE award. 

Prince Philip previously studied at Gordonstoun in Moray, Scotland, in 1934, and his three sons, Charles, Andrew, and Edward, also attended. 

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have arrived for the second day of the state visit to the US. 

The couple is taking part in the official welcome for King Charles and Queen Camilla, a tradition that dates back to the 18th century. 

They were welcomed with a traditional military arrival ceremony and national anthems from both countries. 

© Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla have joined the President on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. 

© Getty Images

We're getting more information on the official arrival in the US this afternoon. 

Melania Trump is wearing a white silk and wool jacket and skirt by Ralph Lauren. 

The First Lady looks stunning in a straw hat by Eric Javits and Manolo Blahnik snake pumps. 

© Getty Images

Donald Trump is giving an official welcome speech, and our US Royal Correspondent, Alex Hurtado, is on the scene to hear it all! 

The President has said the King is "elegant" and "cute" and revealed his mother even had a crush on him!

© Getty Images

King Charles received a rather unexpected compliment from the president, who said his mother had a "crush" on the young King. 

It drew giggles from the King, the Queen and the First Lady herself!

© Getty Images

Our royal editor, Emily Nash, and US royal correspondent, Alex Hurtado, are on the ground in Washington DC. 

You can watch the moment of the King and Queen's arrival, filmed by Alex, below. 

I'm now handing over to our US writer, Beatriz!

We've got updates coming in thick and fast for you all now. 

Follow along daily with Emily Nash's expert insight, behind-the-scenes updates and exclusive video diaries from the heart of the action.

Sign up to HELLO! VIP to read Emily's latest opinion piece, and then head to our socials for new video diary updates every day.

The Prince and Princess of Wales enjoy 'simple' weekends at Forest Lodge, it has been revealed. 

Kate and William are still very busy though, especially when it comes to arranging things for their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

Read our piece to see what they all get up to! 

© Getty Images

Posing with King Charles, Donald and Melania Trump on the balcony of the White House, Queen Camilla donned a pistachio green crepe silk jacket by Fiona Clare, adorned with a diamond heart brooch belonging to her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth II.

© Getty Images

King Charles found the perfect gift for a sitting US president: a framed facsimile of the 1879 design plans for the Resolute Desk, the famous wooden desk that has been part of several presidents' Oval Offices.

It was gifted to Rutherford B. Hayes by Queen Victoria in 1880, however it was John F. Kennedy who became the first president to install and use the desk in the Oval Office in 1961, thanks to First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The desk is crafted from oak timbers of the British ship H.M.S. Resolute.

The original design plans are held by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, with the drawings the King is gifting featuring the front elevation, top and projection of the President's Desk.

The U.S. Government recovered and refitted H.M.S. Resolute before sending it back to England where it was presented to Queen Victoria in 1856 as a gesture of goodwill and friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom. H.M.S. Resolute went on to serve in the Royal Navy until 1879, when it was decommissioned,  three desks were subsequently made from the ship's timber by master carpenter William Evenden, at the Royal Navy Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla is gifting Melania Trump a brooch by British jewelry designer Fiona Rae, a member of the British Society of Enamelers, and who in 2014 was among the first businesses to be granted a Royal Warrant from His Majesty The King.

In addition to hosting the King and Queen for the state banquet, which the president has reportedly been meticulous about, they also have separate gifts for Queen Camilla and King Charles.

Trump is gifting the King a custom facsimile of a letter written from John Adams to John Jay in 1785, in which Adams describes His Majesty King George the III, to whom he was once a subject and bitter enemy, receiving Adams as the first U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain at St. James' Palace.

In his letter recounting his visit, Adams quotes his speech to the King promising to restore friendship between the two nations and the King's response, saying that although he was "the last to consent to the separation,” he would be the first to meet U.S. friendship. He also noted that this experience might prove useful to later diplomats.

Meanwhile Melania Trump gifted the Queen six Tiffany English King Sterling Silver Teaspoons and honey from the White House, likely a product of the beehives Michelle Obama had installed in the gardens during Barack Obama's administration.

The teaspoons are Tiffany's interpretation of the "King" designs, which were popular in England and America in the late 19th century. Each teaspoon is hand engraved with the Queen's cypher.

The Queen and the first lady were joined by American students at the White House Tennis Pavilion, for a cross-cultural educational event as part of Melania Trump's Fostering the Future Together initiative.

The the small group included several state champions from the Presidential AI Challenge, and therefore the Queen and first lady had the children show them their AI-powered sunglasses, which the latter tried on.

The Queen gave the children books, while Melania passed out little boxes with a challenge coin inside them, the gold-plated presidential coins Donald Trump had designed with his name and slogans engraved on them.

© Getty Images

King Charles and Donald Trump exchanged pleasantries — and gifts! — at the Oval Office, ahead of the former's speech to Congress later in the afternoon.

© Getty Images

Amid already heightened tensions between the UK and US over the Iran war, the Financial Times has reported on audio from Britain's ambassador to Washington Christian Turner, in which he reportedly said the only country that has a "special relationship" with the United States is "probably Israel," while speaking to a group of UK students visiting the capital in mid-February.

In a leaked audio recording of the ambassador's meeting with sixth-form students, he can be heard saying: "'Special relationship' is a phrase I try not to utter because it's quite nostalgic, it's quite backwards-looking, and it has a lot of sort of baggage about it."

He also criticized the US political system for failing to hold accountable those embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, another tense topic looming over the King's visit, given his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's alleged involvement.

In response, a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson told the outlet: "These were private, informal comments made to a group of UK sixth-form students visiting the US in early February. They are certainly not any reflection of the UK government's position."