King Charles tells Congress that the US-UK alliance is “more important today than ever before”

Washington Saying he felt the “weight of history” on his shoulders, King Charles became the first British monarch in 35 years to address Congress on Tuesday, when he urged lawmakers to recommit to the US-UK alliance and resist “clear calls to look inward.”

“American words have weight and meaning, as they have done since independence. The actions of this great nation are even more important. President Lincoln understood this well, with his thinking in the Gettysburg Magistrate’s Speech so that the world may not pay attention to what we say, but it will never forget what we do,” the king told a packed House on the second day of his meeting. state visit to the US Therefore, in the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, our two countries rededicate themselves to each other in self-sacrificing service to our people and to all the countries of the world.

For this week visit from the king and Queen Camilla comes as relations between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been strained over the Iran war and other issues. In his nearly 30-minute speech, Charles highlighted the longstanding relationship between the US and the UK.

“The modern relationship between our two nations and our people goes back not only 250 years, but more than four centuries. It is amazing to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of kings to read, with daily attention, American news,” he said. “So I come here today with the greatest respect for the United States Congress, this bastion of democracy built to represent the voice of all Americans to advance sacred rights and liberties.”

The king noted that the speech came “at times of great uncertainty, at times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East that pose great challenges to the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our countries.”

Charles said the two nations “don’t always agree” but his words focused more on their relationship, referring to it as “one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”

“Our two countries have always found ways to come together,” he said, calling the US-UK alliance “truly unique.” “That cooperation … is more important today than ever.”

“The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable cooperation,” he added.

He said “the challenges we are facing are too big for one nation to handle alone.”

“But in this unexpected situation, our alliance cannot focus on what we have achieved, or think that the basic principles remain strong,” he continued. “As my prime minister said last month: ‘Ours is an important partnership. We must not ignore everything that has supported us for the past eighty years. Instead, we must build on it.’

The king spoke briefly on Saturday A shot of the White House Correspondents’ Dinnerwhere the president and other members of Congress were present, declaring that “such acts of violence will never succeed.” The line was one of the few to receive congratulations from lawmakers.

“Whatever our disagreements, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand together in our commitment to respect democracy, protect all our people from harm, and applaud the courage of those who risk their lives every day serving our countries,” he said of Saturday’s incident.

The king spoke about NATO, the alliance Mr. Trump has threatened to leave, saying “our defense, intelligence and security relationships have been strengthened together in a relationship measured in years, but decades.” He also highlighted several ways the nations have collaborated on defense, including the development of the F-35 and the submarine partnership between the US, UK and Australia.

“We are not starting these amazing efforts together because of emotions. We are doing this because it builds collective resilience for the future, making our citizens safer for generations to come,” he said.

He said the same “unwavering resolve” shown by the US and the UK in World War II, the Cold War and after 9/11 “is needed to protect Ukraine and its bravest people, to secure a just and lasting peace,” a line that received bipartisan applause from those in the room.

It was the second time that a British monarch addressed Congress. Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’ mother, was the first in 1991, Charles noted.

“Speaking in this famous room of debate and discussion, I can’t help but think of my late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who in 1991, was also given this award and spoke in the same way under the watchful eye of the icon of freedom above us,” he said.

Before speaking to lawmakers, the king met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Minerals Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Mr. Trump and first lady Melania Trump welcomed the king and queen to the White House earlier Tuesday for an official arrival ceremony. Mr. Trump spoke of the “special relationship” between the US and the United Kingdom, saying “we hope it will stay that way.”