Britain’s King Charles urges Western unity in speech to US Congress
British King Charles III delivered a rare address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on April 28, 2026, emphasizing enduring UK-US unity, shared democratic values, and support for Ukraine, while subtly cautioning against isolationism amid tensions over the Iran conflict and strained relations under President Donald Trump. He highlighted climate change and nature conservation as shared responsibilities, reflecting his personal advocacy. The speech occurred during a four-day state visit marked by diplomatic friction and avoided contentious topics like the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. King Charles later met with major U.S. tech leaders to promote British innovation and investment opportunities.
- ▪King Charles III became only the second British monarch to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, following Queen Elizabeth II's 1991 speech.
- ▪In his address, the king stressed UK-US solidarity in defending democracy, supporting Ukraine, and resisting isolationist tendencies, seen as a nod to criticism of President Trump's 'America First' stance.
- ▪The monarch met with tech executives including Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Jensen Huang to discuss startup challenges and bolster UK technology sector appeal.
- ▪King Charles avoided meeting Epstein survivors, declining an invitation from Representative Ro Khanna, amid ongoing scrutiny over Prince Andrew's ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
- ▪Tensions between the U.S. and UK have risen over the Iran war, with Trump criticizing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's stance and a Pentagon email raising questions about U.S. support for Britain's Falklands claim.
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King Charles promotes US-UK unity in speech to Congress amid Iran tensionsSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxBritain's King Charles addresses a joint meeting of Congress, next to US Vice-President J.D. Vance and US House Speaker Mike Johnson in Washington DC, on April 28.PHOTO: REUTERSPublished Apr 29, 2026, 04:29 AMUpdated Apr 29, 2026, 08:30 AMListenWASHINGTON - Britain’s King Charles told the US Congress on April 28 that despite an age of uncertainty and conflict in Europe and the Middle East, the UK and the US will always be staunch allies united in defending democracy, at a time of deep divisions between the two long-time allies over the war with Iran.“Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold…
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