Following the British monarch’s historic and moving State of the Union address to Congress—his last such address was delivered alongside Queen Elizabeth in 1991—King Charles and Queen Camilla, on their second day in the United States, dressed in state attire for the State Dinner at the White House, hosted by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday, April 28.
The monarchs’ visit to the United States, which also included stops in New York and Virginia, commemorated the 250th anniversary of American independence from the United Kingdom.
Queen Camilla, 78, did not wear a tiara to the dinner (although Queen Elizabeth wore one at a similar event during her 2007 visit to the United States), but she added a touch of glamour with an amethyst and diamond necklace that has been passed down through generations in the royal family. She paired the accessory with a pink Fiona Clare evening gown. The president, 79, and King Charles, 77, looked radiant in tuxedos for the occasion.
First Lady Melania, 56, also wore pink to the event, in a strapless Christian Dior Haute Couture gown and off-white Dior suede gloves.
Among the guests was Jeff Bezos. The three-course dinner menu began with a delicate, silky, and aromatic velouté of herbs from the garden, accompanied by a refreshing hearts of palm salad and finished with crisp toasted shallots and fresh mint. Next came handmade spring herb ravioli, made with herbs from the White House garden, and a classic sole meunière. For dessert, a honeycomb-shaped chocolate cake was served, filled with a smooth vanilla pastry cream and an almond joconde sponge, accompanied by crème fraîche ice cream and White House honey.
Three wines were selected to honor the heritage and enduring friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom. The evening included performances by U.S. military musicians from the Marines, Army, and Air Force. This is by no means the first glamorous evening for royalty and the Trumps. In September, the president and first lady were entertained at Windsor Castle, England, during a state visit, where Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton wore tiaras at the official banquet.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and Trump’s first term as president in 2019, he also visited the United Kingdom for an official banquet.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the capital on Monday, April 27, where they were greeted by the Trump family with a private tea and garden party. Tuesday began with a welcoming ceremony at the White House, where the president delivered a speech. King Charles also made history by becoming the second British monarch to address a joint session of Congress. His mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, was the first, delivering a speech at the Capitol in 1991.
Prior to the royal visit, President Trump—who has recently clashed with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer—expressed enthusiasm and optimism when asked if his meeting with King Charles could ease tensions between the two countries.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to the United States was for four days, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence from the United Kingdom. On Wednesday, April 29, the royal family departed Washington, D.C. They will travel to New York for a series of engagements, including a visit to One World Trade Center to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Afterward, they will travel to Virginia to meet with local residents and community organizations and attend a public celebration in a national park to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Following their US tour, the royal family will travel to Bermuda. This will be King Charles’s first visit as monarch to a British Overseas Territory.
