Charles is hailed as 'the greatest King' by Trump during official farewell at the White House


King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to the White House for an official farewell ceremony with President Donald Trump and his wife Melania


Eleanor Dye
Eleanor DyeOnline Royal Correspondent
1 day ago
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The King and Queen have bid an official farewell to President Donald Trump as they near the end of a packed four-day State Visit to the US. 

Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, have fulfilled a packed agenda since touching down in Washington on Monday, while attempting to smooth transatlantic tensions over the Iran war.

The pair were given a warm farewell by the President and First Lady Melania in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington D.C., after returning from New York. 

Their busy and varied schedule took the royal couple from taking tea at the White House with Trump and Melania, and a garden party at the British embassy, to meeting tech moguls, a high-profile visit to Congress and a white-tie banquet in their honour.

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They exchanged handshakes© Getty

The President and First Lady walked out of the White House at the same time the King and Queen's vehicle pulled up to the South Portico. 

Queen Camilla looked as stylish as ever in a denim blue wool dress by Anna Valentine, alongside a Tiffany brooch given to her by the First Lady on the Windsor State Visit last year. 

Melania, meanwhile, opted for a charcoal grey suit and a white shirt. 

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King Charles, Queen Camilla, Donald Trump and Melania during the official farewell at the White House© Getty

Trump, who previously described the King as "a great friend of mine", said Charles was "the greatest King" as he made his departure.

"He’s a great king," Trump said. "The greatest king, in my book."

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King Charles and U.S. President Donald Trump pose during a farewell ceremony at the White House © Getty Images

The group of four stood in front of the White House for a final photograph before exchanging handshakes, final words and pleasantries. 

"We'll talk later," Trump was heard telling the King. 

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President Donald Trump poses during a farewell ceremony at the White House© Getty Images

Trump made an "okay" hand gesture to press, as the King and Queen drove away. 

Afterwards, Camilla rolled down her window and stuck her hand out to wave goodbye.  

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King Charles and Queen Camilla bid farewell to Donald Trump and Melania at the White House© Getty

As the cars pulled away, Trump told the press they were "really great people". He added: "We need more people like that in our country."

What are the King and Queen doing next?

Following the goodbye ceremony, the King and Queen visited Arlington National Cemetary, one of the United States' most significant sites of military remembrance. There, they laid a wreath and posy at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honouring the US-UK military partnership. 

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present a bouquet of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery© Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla present a bouquet of flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery

Charles followed in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the cemetery in 1957 on her first State Visit to the US. 

Later, they are heading to a block party to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. 

They will also visit Virginia, and, at the end of the US state visit, Charles is travelling alone to Bermuda for a three-day royal visit – his first as King to a British Overseas Territory.

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