Next year, King Charles III and Prince William of Great Britain are expected to visit the United States to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. They are part of a new “charm campaign” against US President Donald Trump amid the impasse in trade deal negotiations, The Times reports, citing a source.
Negotiations are currently underway, and it is “highly likely” that the king will visit the US in April, a source told the newspaper. The Times notes that this will be the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the US in nearly 20 years: in 2007, the late Queen Elizabeth visited the US at the invitation of then-President George W. Bush.
According to The Times, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will not accompany Charles III, and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will likely represent the British government. The Prince of Wales will visit the United States later: in his capacity as President of the Football Association of Great Britain, he will be in attendance during the 2020 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in North America from June 11 to July 19. The Times notes that England’s third group match will take place on June 27, a week before Independence Day (July 4). It’s possible that Prince William’s visit will be planned so that he will be in the United States for the Independence Day celebrations.
The article states that the White House has not yet extended invitations to the royal family, and the Prince of Wales has not yet decided on his plans to attend the World Cup.
The British government hopes that visits by royal family members will help maintain the “special relationship” between the two countries and encourage the signing of a comprehensive trade agreement between the two countries. According to the Times, London considers it important to conclude a deal in early 2026, before the US faces serious competition ahead of the midterm elections in November.