King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted with a tour of the First Lady’s newly unveiled beehive after arriving at the White House on Monday for their state visit.
Melania Trump revealed the expansion to the executive residence’s apiary programme last Friday, with the centrepiece being a hive crafted in the distinctive shape of the White House itself.
The architectural hive joins a pair of existing colonies that have occupied the south grounds since 2009, positioned close to the historic kitchen garden.
During the height of summer, these established hives are home to roughly 70,000 bees, which together produce between 200 and 225 pounds of clover honey each year.
Melania Trump shows off new beehive to Queen Camilla and King Charles
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The harvest serves multiple purposes within the White House operation: it features in official meals, is packaged as diplomatic gifts, and portions are donated to food banks in the local area.
Beyond their honey production, the colonies perform a vital environmental function by pollinating the flowers and vegetables growing in the surrounding gardens.
The King and Queen were scheduled to view the apiaries during their tour of the South Lawn.
Union flags adorned the lamp posts surrounding the presidential residence as the Trumps prepared to welcome Their Majesties for afternoon tea and a stroll through the South Lawn’s buzzing attraction.
The harvest serves multiple purposes within the White House operation
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed: “First Lady Melania Trump has led all of the preparations for the state visit, which will honour the longstanding and special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.”
The four-day royal tour, timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence, arrives amid strained diplomatic relations stemming from President Trump’s military campaign in Iran.
Adding to the tense atmosphere, a shooting at the Washington Hilton during last Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner forced Secret Service agents to evacuate the president from the venue.
Investigators believe Mr Trump and senior administration figures were the intended targets, triggering an immediate reassessment of security protocols ahead of the King’s arrival.
The two couples toured the White House beehives in the grounds of the White House
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REUTERS
Buckingham Palace confirmed the visit would proceed following discussions with American authorities. A spokesman stated: “The King and Queen are most grateful to all those who have worked at pace to ensure this remains the case.”
The approach from Charles, Palace sources indicated, would be to keep calm and carry on.
Despite the friction between Washington and Westminster over Iran policy, President Trump has maintained a notably warm stance towards the monarch personally.
The state visit will include stops at the nation’s capital, New York City, and Virginia, arranged to celebrate the United States of America’s 250th anniversary of its independence
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In recent weeks, Mr Trump has dismissed Prime Minister Keir Starmer as “no Winston Churchill,” while leaked Pentagon conversations about potentially reconsidering American backing for British control of the Falkland Islands have caused further alarm.
Yet the US President, who values the diplomatic influence of royal figures in Middle Eastern nations, has consistently praised Charles as “a great man” and “a friend,” suggesting the couple’s presence might help stabilise bilateral ties.
British ambassador Christian Turner addressed the relationship’s resilience on CBS’s Face the Nation, noting: “We had a small difference of opinion in 1776. We’ve been through that. We’ve come a very long way.”