King Charles used Tuesday’s state dinner at the White House to call for the renewal of the UK-US alliance, delivering a warmer, more personal speech than his historic address to Congress and marking the moment with a symbolic naval gift to President Donald Trump.
Speaking in Washington DC, the King told guests that the United States and the United Kingdom were bound by “an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens”, as he moved to underline shared history and continuing strategic cooperation.
The speech, delivered in a less formal tone than his earlier remarks to Congress, again referenced the recent incident in Washington that saw a Secret Service officer injured during an attempted attack on political figures last weekend.
The King praised the response of US security services and paid tribute to what he described as President Trump’s “unflappable determination to carry on”.
Golfing ace Rory McIlroy, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and Apple chief Tim Cook were among the guests at the dinner.
King Charles told guests that the American character had long been defined by “courage, tenacity and the spirit of adventure”, adding that across generations the two nations had “traded, innovated and created together” and “stood together in the best of times and worst of times”.
The King said that in a more uncertain global climate, both countries now faced challenges that demanded renewed cooperation.
“Those challenges encourage us to reaffirm, tonight, the basis on which our partnership has been built,” he said, pointing to defence collaboration and intelligence sharing as key pillars of the relationship.
King Charles praises Donald Trump’s ‘unflappable determination’ following assassination attempt
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He specifically highlighted the Aukus defence pact with Australia as an example of modern security cooperation, describing it as part of a wider effort to strengthen deterrence and long-term stability.
The speech concluded with a ceremonial moment that drew particular attention.
The King presented President Trump with the original bell from the conning tower of HMS Trump, a Royal Navy submarine that saw service in the Pacific during World War Two.
The Palace described the gift as a symbol of “shared history and a shining future”, echoing the Queen’s bicentennial gift of the Liberty Bell during her 1976 visit to the United States.
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King Charles and Donald Trump raising a glass during the State Dinner
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In a lighter moment, the King quipped that if either side ever needed to get in touch, they could simply “give us a ring”, prompting laughter from guests.
The gesture was framed as part of a broader effort to underline continuity between past and present transatlantic ties, with the King also referencing historic meetings between US presidents and British sovereigns over the decades.
He told the dinner that the alliance was now being “renewed” for a new era, adding: “Across the ocean and from coast to coast, we have traded, innovated and created together.
“We have stood together in the best of times and worst of times.”
Diners at the glitzy dinner will enjoy a starter of delicate garden herb velouté, complemented by a hearts of palm salad, and finished with crisp toasted shallots and micro mint.
For the second course there is a handcrafted spring herb ravioli, with herbs from the White House Kitchen Garden, filled with creamy ricotta, morels, dressed with a light parmesan emulsion.
Diners will then be presented with a classic dover sole meunière, bathed in a nutty brown butter. It will be accompanied by sweet snow peas, layered potatoes pave and a parsley oil.
For dessert, guests will be served a sweet beehive shaped chocolate gâteau with a smooth vanilla bean cremeux custard, set inside with an almond joconde. The beehive will be complimented with creme fraiche ice cream and White House honey.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Donald Trump and Melania Trump pictured at the State Dinner
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The King’s remarks came after his earlier address to Congress, where he delivered a more formal warning about global instability and urged continued unity between the two nations amid conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
At the state dinner, however, the tone shifted towards celebration and personal diplomacy, with the King emphasising friendship, shared heritage and optimism about the future of the relationship.
The King concluded his toast by thanking him for a “wonderful dinner” and joking that it was “a considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party”.
The visit marks only the second time a reigning British monarch has addressed Congress and the first state visit of King Charles’s reign to the United States, with both sides seeking to reinforce ties at a time of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting global alliances.