King to defend 'democratic values' as US state visit begins

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in the US at the start of a four-day state visit - the first since Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2007.

They arrived at Andrews military airbase in Maryland before being greeted at the White House by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.

Security is extremely tight after the shooting incident in Washington DC at an event attended by the president on Saturday.

King Charles will address the US Congress on Tuesday and it is expected that he will express sympathy over the attack.

His speech is also expected to say that in times of great international challenges, it is more necessary than ever to stand together to defend democratic values.

The King will say that despite current disagreements between the US and the UK, "time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together".

His address to Congress will call for "reconciliation and renewal" of the US and UK partnership and advocate for shared values of tolerance, liberty and equality.

He will urge the defence of those beliefs, whether through supporting Nato or protecting Ukraine, according to royal sources.

The King will tell US lawmakers that the transatlantic alliance is built on a "generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding and to value people of all faiths and none".

On Monday, on arrival at the airbase in Maryland, the royal couple were greeted on the runway by the US chief of protocol Monica Crowley and the British ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, among other dignitaries.

They were then given flowers by two children, before a band performed the British and American national anthems.

The King and Queen went on to meet the Trumps, who greeted their visitors on the South Portico of the White House, with the famous building currently under much construction work.

The royal visitors had tea in the Green Room and were brought into the garden to see a newly-expanded beehive, rebuilt in the shape of a miniature White House.

This honey-coated piece of diplomacy was intended to appeal to King Charles, who is an enthusiastic supporter of bee-keeping.

The state visit, carried out on behalf of the UK government, is a soft power attempt to strengthen relations, in a year in which the US is marking its 250th anniversary of independence.

Queen Camilla was wearing a brooch which combines the British and US flags, which was given to the late Queen Elizabeth II by the mayor of New York on a state visit in 1957.

That particular trip had been a diplomatic mission to rebuild the US and UK partnership after the Suez Crisis of 1956, which had put the two countries in dispute over a Middle East war.

King Charles and Queen Camilla then went to a crowded garden party attended by more than 600 people at the UK's embassy in Washington DC. The guests had US and UK connections, with people from politics, science, charities and the military.

It was the traditional garden party fare of sandwiches and scones, but the beef sandwiches had their own diplomatic signficance, with the meat coming from the first tariff-free batch of British beef imported after a recently-negotiated deal.

Among the political figures there were former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Ted Cruz and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Queen Camilla stopped for some time to talk to a group of women representing organisations campaigning against domestic abuse.

"It's very important to have such advocates and it's a cause very close to her heart," said Sandra Jackson, who had told the Queen about her work for House of Ruth, which supports survivors of domestic violence.

There have been calls for the King and Queen to meet survivors of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. But that hasn't happened because of concerns about jeopardising the legal processes.

Jackson said she "respected their decision" and welcomed the attention that Queen Camilla was bringing to the subject.

Another campaigner Michelle DeLaune, one of a group talking to the Queen, said it was a sign of progress that such a prominent figure was talking publicly about the issue and raising its significance.

On Tuesday, after a White House ceremonial military welcome, the King will deliver his speech to both houses of the US Congress, the first monarch since Elizabeth II in 1991 to make such a speech.

It follows a rocky time for US and UK relations, with President Trump critical of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the UK's reluctance to get involved in the conflict in Iran.

There will be a speech too from President Trump at a state dinner in the White House, at an event bringing together politicians and celebrities from the US and the UK.