King Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to make their much-anticipated state visit to the White House at the end of next month — but there are still some issues that could hinder the trip, multiple sources confirm to Page Six.
The British monarch, 77, and his 78-year-old wife are set be hosted by President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, DC, the last week of April to help kick off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday, Page Six is told.
The visit is a much-needed soft-power balm as tensions rise between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the Iran war.
Trump has openly criticized Starmer over Britain’s resistance to lending support to the operation; Starmer, in turn, has said his decision were guided by law and the “national interest.”
Despite Trump’s public attacks on Starmer, he has referred to King Charles as “a great guy,” telling reporters at the White House earlier this month, “He’s coming in very soon.”
The royals are expected to visit NYC as well as DC and insiders hope the visit will prove yet again how special the relationship between the UK and the US is. But one palace official told us that “all trips are subject to government advice,” adding that “planning and preparation continues” ahead of an official announcement.
Meanwhile, officials are believed to have already ensured the visit will only be three days long, as the king is still undergoing cancer treatment.
We have reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
And despite an apparent thaw in relations between Charles and Prince Harry, the king won’t see his California-based son, who will be in Australia on a faux-royal trip with wife Meghan Markle.
Charles and Camilla last visited the US in March 2015. It is expected that this will be the king’s only visit to the US this year. As we revealed, Prince William — and possibly Kate Middleton — will handle the high-profile America 250 celebrations in July.
Charles rolled out the red carpet for Trump, 79, and Melania, 55, last September during an unprecedented second state visit in the UK, where the first family were guests of honor at Windsor Castle.
Trump was reportedly taken with Kate Middleton after being seated next to her at dinner.
During the state banquet at Windsor Castle, the president appeared to confuse the Princess of Wales, 44, with Camilla, looking directly at Kate while expressing gratitude to the “queen”.
He praised Kate as “radiant, healthy, and beautiful” during his speech.
The April royal visit also comes just weeks after the February arrest of Charles’s younger brother, the ex-Prince Andrew, who was taken in by police on suspicion of leaking confidential UK Government information to billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
This prompted Oscars host Conan O’Brien to jibe, “It’s the first time since 2012 that there are no British actors nominated for Best Actor or Best Actress. Yeah, the British spokesperson said, ‘Well, at least we arrest our pedophiles. We got that going for us.’”
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