King Charles Celebrates U.S.-U.K. Bonds in Historic Congress Address

King Charles III delivered a historic address to Congress on Tuesday, celebrating the centuries-old alliance between the United States and United Kingdom while subtly underscoring the importance of constitutional restraints on executive power amid diplomatic tensions between Washington and London.

The address, reported by the Nebraska Examiner, marked only the second time a British monarch has addressed a joint session of Congress. Charles was the first British king to do so, following his mother Queen Elizabeth II's 1991 appearance.

Speaking for approximately 27 minutes, the 77-year-old monarch told lawmakers that "America's words carry weight and meaning" as he reflected on how the two nations evolved from "bitter division" 250 years ago to forge "one of the most consequential alliances in human history." He punctuated his remarks with humor, noting that 250 years for America is "just the other day" in British terms.

The address stood out for receiving bipartisan standing ovations, including when Charles cited U.S. Supreme Court cases establishing that "executive power is subject to checks and balances." The unified applause contrasted sharply with the partisan divisions that typically characterize State of the Union addresses.

The timing of Charles' visit came against the backdrop of strained U.S.-U.K. relations. President Trump has repeatedly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for declining to join American offensive operations against Iran, at one point telling reporters "it's very sad to see that the [U.K.-U.S.] relationship is obviously not what it was." The monarch's emphasis on NATO and executive constraints appeared designed to subtly address these disagreements without direct confrontation.

Trump, who did not attend the speech due to protocol, later praised the king's address at a state dinner, saying he was impressed that "Democrats" stood to applaud. The president told reporters afterward that his personal rapport with Charles had improved U.S.-U.K. relations, stating "When you like the king of a country so much, it probably helps your relationship with the prime minister."

Charles also acknowledged lingering tensions stemming from the recent release of millions of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. His brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office after files revealed he allegedly shared confidential government information with the disgraced financier. The palace indicated the king's reference to victims of sexual abuse in his speech was intentional, acknowledging "ills that so tragically exist" in both nations.

The king said he will visit Shenandoah National Park in Virginia and New York's 9/11 Memorial during his state visit, emphasizing his environmental advocacy and reaffirming British support for the United States following the September 11 attacks, when NATO invoked its Article 5 collective defense clause for the first time to support America.