Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has formally invited the United Kingdom’s constitutional monarch, King Charles III, to deliver an address to a Joint Meeting of Congress during the monarch’s upcoming visit to the United States, framing the moment as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
In a letter sent on behalf of bipartisan congressional leadership to Buckingham Palace, lawmakers wrote, “It is our honor to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.”
The planned address would coincide with a state visit by Charles and Queen Camilla, scheduled for April 27 to 30. President Donald Trump announced the trip on social media earlier this week.
“This momentous occasion will be even more special this year, as we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of our Great Country,” Trump wrote on social media. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!”
Lawmakers also emphasized the deep historical ties between the U.K. and the U.S., writing that “the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom has evolved into one of the most consequential partnerships in modern history.”
The letter continued, noting that the alliance is grounded “not merely in shared interests, but — as Queen Elizabeth II told a Joint Meeting of Congress in 1991 — in a shared ‘spirit of democracy,’ and a commitment to the fundamental values of individual freedom, consent of the governed, and the rule of law.”
The April visit marks the first time a British monarch has visited the U.S. since 2007, when the late Queen Elizabeth II visited during President George W. Bush’s presidency.
The invitation also ties directly to America 250 celebrations, with congressional leaders highlighting the symbolic weight of the moment. “As we celebrate this historic milestone and recommit ourselves to the principles upon which our nation was founded,” the letter reads, “we also recognize that the American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang.”
Framing the speech as forward-looking, lawmakers added: “We believe an Address to Congress will provide a unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history.”
The invitation, however, comes against a more complicated political backdrop. In recent weeks, Trump has sharply criticized the U.K. over what he sees as insufficient support for U.S. efforts in the war in Iran.
In a Tuesday post on Truth Social, he suggested the U.K. should purchase jet fuel from the U.S. “or just TAKE IT” from Iran, and has repeatedly taken aim at British leadership.
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At one point, Trump contrasted Prime Minister Keir Starmer with beloved wartime leader Winston Churchill, saying early in the conflict, “This is not Winston Churchill that we’re dealing with.”
The juxtaposition highlights the delicate balance surrounding the visit: a ceremonial reaffirmation of the “special relationship” at a time when political tensions between the two allies are increasingly visible.