They epitomise the saying, Keep Calm and Carry On. And that’s exactly what King Charles and Queen Camilla did when, shortly before they were due to fly to the United States to meet with Donald Trump, the US president was targeted by an assassin.
Despite suggestions they should cancel, Charles and Camilla, 78, still showed up for the four-day visit. Royal photographer Arthur Edwards says the King wouldn’t be put off his duty, with his Majesty once telling him, “If a bullet’s got my name on it, so be it.”
250 years of American independence
The visit, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence, was the first trip Charles, 77, has made to the US since becoming King in 2022. He and Camilla carried out a range of engagements, including attending a garden party, having tea with Donald and First Lady Melania, 56, and donning their finery for a glamorous state dinner at the White House.
The lavish meal, chosen by Melania, included herbed ravioli and Dover sole meunière, with White House honey and vanilla bean cremeux for dessert. The First Lady appeared to have hit it of with the Queen, with the pair earlier chuckling over sitting on wet chairs on the White House lawn.
“We shall have soggy bottoms,” the Queen said.
Meanwhile, the King sprinkled plenty of humour in the speech he gave at the dinner, joking that the meal was a “considerable improvement on the Boston tea party”. To mark the anniversary, he gave the president the original bell from a 1940s submarine called HMS Trump.
“Should you ever need to get hold of us, give us a ring!” His Majesty said.
Earlier in the day, he had delivered a historic speech to the US Congress that addressed some of the issues currently straining relations between the two countries, such as support of Nato. His words led to 12 standing ovations from the politicians.
