WASHINGTON — A joint session of Congress played host to a British monarch for the first time in 35 years on Tuesday as King Charles III stood before the legislative branch and spoke about the importance of the alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom.
The address came just three days after the alleged third attempt on President Donald Trump’s life in two years, and amidst the highest levels of political polarization the country has ever seen.
The king addressed the incident, which unfolded at the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday night, at the beginning of his speech.
“We meet in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your Nation and to foment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed,” the king said to a chorus of applause from both Democrats and Republicans.
The royal visit came at a tense time for U.S. and U.K. relations, specifically between Trump and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The two governments have clashed over the conflict in Iran, with the U.S. initiating hostilities alongside Israel and the Starmer administration subsequently refusing to get involved. Trump mocked Starmer in a recent press conference, referencing the British prime minister’s hesitation to deploy defensive ships after the war had already begun.
Despite the heightened tensions between the U.S. and some of its allies abroad, including the Starmer government, the king spoke in a mostly lighthearted and sometimes playful manner, with members of Congress frequently laughing along.
“The founding fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. 250 years ago, or, as we say in the United Kingdom, just the other day, they declared independence,” the king said, prompting laughter around the room.
Still, the king noted that the international landscape had become more somber since Queen Elizabeth II addressed a joint session of Congress over three decades ago.
“It is an era that is, in many ways, more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late mother spoke, in this chamber, in 1991,” the king said. “The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone.”
As is with many joint addresses to Congress, and regardless of the speaker, members attempted to create partisan moments during the speech.
In the most notable of such moments, the king referenced how the executive branch is susceptible to checks and balances, which prompted Democrats to immediately stand up in loud cheering and applause. Republicans on the right side of the chamber took longer to rise and did not cheer with the Democrats.
On the other side of the aisle, Republicans stood up quickly with cheers and applause when the king mentioned the strength of the Christian faith.
“For many here, and for myself, the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community,” the king said.
Regardless of those moments of seemingly partisan disagreement, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle said the speech struck the right tone for the moment.
“It was just a wonderful speech, and most importantly, a unifying speech,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., told Medill News Service after the address.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla, said he was particularly struck by the king’s emphasis on shared values and appreciated that aspect of the speech.
“He had a lot of good humor and I was surprised about that,” Lankford told Medill News Service. “[I was] pleased to hear him talk about issues about religious liberty and common values…he led with that, that this is a common value, and he’s right.”
The king’s visit, which will last until Thursday and feature a state dinner at the White House this evening, is meant to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
“With the spirit of 1776 in mind, we can perhaps agree that we don’t always agree,” the king said.