Garden party to welcome King Charles to USA set to break key tradition

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to make a state visit to the USA at the end of April, where they will meet President Donald Trump. The upcoming visit will feature a unique garden party in Washington which will break a centuries-old tradition.

The much-anticipated trip will take place between Monday, April 27 and Thursday, April 30. It will be the first time a British monarch has visited the US since Queen Elizabeth II was hosted by George Bush in 2007. Charles and Camilla will attend a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington DC but guests are being discouraged from wearing hats.

According to an invitation to the event obtained by the Washington Examiner’s Rob Crilly, the event will have a “Hats Not Encouraged” dress code. It also includes a customary dress code of lounge suits and day dresses.

The dress code for a royal garden party dates back centuries, with elaborate hats a tradition. Women often wear headpieces consisting of feathers, flowers and beads to compliment their day dresses while men are seen wearing top hats with their suits.

The state visit schedule also includes a formal banquet at the White House on April 28. According to Buckingham Palace, the visit will “celebrate the historic connections and the modern bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States”.

The late Queen Elizabeth made four official visits to the US, in 1957, 1976, 1991, and 2007. Meanwhile, Charles visited 19 times while he was Prince of Wales.

The upcoming trip has taken months to plan, with decisions about dates and locations made by Buckingham Palace, the Foreign Office, the Trump administration and the UK Embassy in Washington. It has also drawn attention due to the current tense relationship between the UK and the US.

Donald Trump has been highly critical of Sir Keir Starmer for his response to the ongoing war in Iran. He feels the UK has not done enough to support his efforts in the Middle East.

Buckingham Palace said: “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.

“The King will then continue to Bermuda to undertake His Majesty’s first Royal Visit as Monarch to a British Overseas Territory.”