It was an open secret. And Buckingham Palace confirmed this Tuesday, finally, that yes, King Charles III and Camilla will lead a State visit to the USA at the end of April invited by President Donald Trump, as part of the celebrations organized by Washington to commemorate the 250 years of American independence. It is a very delicate situation for the British monarch, as the timing of the trip could not be worse. On one hand, presumably, the war in the Middle East will still be ongoing. Undertaking a State visit, with all its pomp, to a country immersed in conflict, with the buzz of bombs and drones, is already delicate. And above all, because Trump is not holding back harsh criticism against the Starmer Government for its stance on the conflict. "It's very sad to see that the relationship (between the United States and the United Kingdom) obviously is not what it used to be. (...) I never thought I would see this from the UK," said the White House tenant just a few days ago. In recent hours, Trump has disdainfully told the UK to "go find its own oil" and has stated that Starmer should "himself" open the Strait of Hormuz.
In these circumstances, King Charles III's trip to once again charm the fickle republican seems like a poisoned chalice that will require too many diplomatic maneuvers.
Leaders of almost all British political parties have demanded in recent weeks that Downing Street cancel or postpone the State visit of the kings to the USA. And up to 49% of UK citizens oppose the monarch's trip to Washington in the current circumstances, according to a recent YouGov survey. But both the Government and the Windsors have gritted their teeth, understanding that snubbing Trump could have provoked a furious reaction from the American, and a crisis with unpredictable consequences in bilateral relations.
The pressure has been such that the American ambassador to British soil, Warren Stephens - a wealthy businessman and financier very close to the entire Trump family - warned last week, in undiplomatic terms, that a hypothetical cancellation of the trip "would be a serious mistake."
King Charles III and Camilla will be received at the White House, where an exceptional guided tour awaits them, and they will lead a State banquet promising strong emotions. It is also expected that the monarch will address a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Capitol, probably on April 27. The kings will also have an agenda in New York, including a floral tribute at the 9/11 Memorial. American media have also speculated about King Charles III's desire to visit a rural area of the country for a day. Organic farming and the environment are two of his most recurring interests.
And if the war context and Trump's lack of diplomatic tact were not enough headaches for the British monarch regarding this historic trip, he may also have to face the ripple effect of the Epstein case. Thus, this Tuesday, a US congressman has urged the king to meet with the victims of the late convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein during his long-awaited visit to the United States at the end of April, as reported by the BBC.
Democrat Ro Khanna, who worked on the legislation that forced the US Department of Justice to release Epstein's files last year, has requested that the monarch meet privately with the victims to hear their testimonies.
"As you know, this is not solely an American issue," Khanna wrote in a letter to the king on Monday, as reported by the British public broadcaster on Tuesday. "Epstein's network had significant ties to the UK through Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's relationships with British public figures, and the social and political circles in which he moved," the congressman wrote. These ties, he added, "raise broader questions about how Epstein could maintain his influence, credibility, and cross-border protection for so long."
The Californian legislator also pointed out that members of Congress have requested testimony from the king's brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, as well as from Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to the United States, about their links to Epstein.
After leaving the United States, King Charles, 77, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, will travel to Bermuda to make his first royal visit as monarch to a British overseas territory. It will also be the first visit by a reigning king to the island. He will not be accompanied by Queen Camilla on that part of the trip.
Bermuda is an autonomous British overseas territory located 650 miles off the east coast of the United States.