Trump welcomes King Charles and shares hopes ‘special relationship’ will ‘always remain’

US president Donald Trump has praised the “special relationship” between America and the UK, telling Britain’s King Charles “we hope it will always remain that way”.

The American leader spoke passionately about the bonds between the two nations as he staged a ceremonial military welcome for Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House.

Despite the recent tensions between the UK and the US, Trump, speaking from a podium on the South Lawn on the second day of the king’s historic state visit, declared: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.”

And he paid tribute to the “essence” of the “special relationship” in the wake of the Second World War, saying: “That understanding of our nation’s unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship and we hope it will always remain that way.”

Charles’ most diplomatically sensitive state visit to date comes amid a backdrop of criticism levelled by Trump at prime minister Keir Starmer over the war in Iran.

Officials in Downing Street will be hoping the British royal family’s soft power diplomacy can help heal the rift, and Trump demonstrated his affection for Charles during the formal welcome.

He said it was a “tremendous privilege to host” Charles and Camilla, called the king a “very elegant man”, praised the late Queen Elizabeth II as a “very special woman” and revealed his mother, Mary, had a “crush” on Charles when he was younger.

“She really did love the family but I also remember her saying very clearly, ‘Charles, look young Charles, he’s so cute’,” Trump said.

“My mother had a crush on Charles – can you believe it? Amazing how… I wonder what she’s thinking right now?”

The president and first lady Melania Trump staged an unprecedented military ceremony for their royal guests.

Charles and Camilla watched the display in Washington DC with their hosts, alongside a group of invited dignitaries and hundreds of spectators.

The royal couple arrived in Washington on Monday for the start of a four-day state visit to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Later Charles will tell Congress the story of the UK and US since America’s independence is “one of the greatest alliances in human history” where the two nations find ways to “come together”.

Trump said he wanted to watch the monarch’s address in the Capitol in person, but had been warned it was not “protocol”.

“I’m going to be watching. I was thinking of going, but they said ‘I don’t know, that might be a step too far’,” he said.

“I would love to go. It’s not supposed to be protocol, but I would love to be with you,” he told Charles.

Trump, who has criticised Starmer for being “no Winston Churchill” over the UK’s response to US calls for support in the Iran conflict, repeatedly referred to wartime leader Churchill in his speech, calling him “Britain’s greatest prime minister”.

He added: “Beneath those beautiful flags, eight decades ago, prime minister Winston Churchill and president Franklin Roosevelt famously met on a ship in the North Atlantic to outline a vision for the free world after World War Two.

“That understanding of our nations’ unique bond and role in history is the essence of our special relationship and we hope it will always remain that way.”

And he spoke of the two countries’ shared values and close friendship, saying: “In the centuries since we won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British.

“We share that same root. We speak the same language. We hold the same values and, together, our warriors have defended the same extraordinary civilisation under twin banners of red, white and blue.”

He called the UK and the US the “two most exceptional nations the world has ever known”, adding: “Together, let us go forward with even stronger resolve to carry on our sacred devotion to liberty and to the traditions of excellence that have been our shared gift of all mankind.”

During the welcome ceremony, Charles and Camilla stood on a dais with the president and first lady as the UK and US national anthems were played by The President’s Own United States Marine Band.

Nearby, a 21-gun salute was fired in tribute to the royal guests by the Presidential Salute Battery.

Senior members of Mr Trump’s administration were among the guests, including vice-president JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, secretary of war Pete Hegseth and Steve Witkoff, special envoy for peace missions.

A large number of military units took part in the ceremonial welcome from the United States Marine Corps Honour Guard to, for the first time at a White House event, the United States Space Force Honour Guard.

The rainy weather eased shortly before the royal party arrived, and presidential staff rushed out to wipe the chairs waiting for Charles, Camilla and the Trumps, ready for the open-air ceremony.

Trump remarked, standing at a podium decorated with the presidential seal, in reference to the weather: “Thank you very much everybody. What a beautiful British day this is.”

Before the event began and the royal party appeared, the crowds were entertained by precision marching and playing by the Drum and Bugle Corps, including the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the US Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

The ceremonial welcome had elements that were familiar to Charles as he was asked to inspect the troops on parade, an honour performed when heads of state visit the UK.

Charles walked with Trump past the military personnel representing a number of services under the skies that threatened rain.

Later, Charles and the president sat down for bilateral talks, and after the meeting when questioned by press as he left Trump said: “It was a really good meeting.

“He’s a fantastic person. They’re incredible people and it’s a real honour.”