King Charles faces a major diplomatic test
King Charles’ first visit to the United States as a monarch comes amid tensions over NATO and Iran. USA TODAY’s Susan Page explains what’s at stake.
During King Charles III’s historic four-day state visit to the United States, all eyes were on Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday, April 28, as they matched colors for the second day in a row.
Melania Trump sported a Christian Dior haute couture look at the White House State Dinner on Tuesday night, wearing a pale pink silk strapless dress and off-white Dior suede gloves, according to a White House pool report.
According to GB News and the Daily Mail, the Queen chose a deep pink for her Fiona Clare dress, highlighting a bold amethyst and diamond necklace and matching earrings.
The royal couple wore matching all-white looks on April 27, when the royal couple arrived for Prince Charles’ first visit to the United States since becoming King.
Melania Trump wore a two-piece Ralph Lauren set, Manolo heels, and a wide-brimmed straw hat that was definitely the centerpiece of her look. She previously wore a similar headpiece and polarized black Eric Javits hat at her husband’s 2025 inauguration.
Meanwhile, Camilla also wore a long-sleeved gown, a wide-brimmed tilt hat and a Cullinan V brooch, a historic piece given to her by Queen Mary, according to Women’s Wear Daily.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrate ‘modern bilateral relationship’ with US
Before the dinner at 8 p.m. ET, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were scheduled to receive a private tour of the White House residence, access to documents and entertainment. Earlier in the day, the king gave a rare speech to a joint session of Congress, addressing the strained but enduring relationship between the country and the United States.
The royal visit with President Donald Trump and his first lady will be the couple’s first visit to the United States since King Charles III ascended the British throne in 2022, shortly after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
President Trump made his second state visit to the UK in September, several years after his last state visit in 2019 during his first term in the White House.
The palace said in a statement that Charles III “celebrates the historic links between Britain and the United States and the modern bilateral relationship”. The British royal couple will be in the United States until April 30th to celebrate the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain.
According to Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth made four official visits to the United States during her reign: in 1957, 1976, 1991 and 2007. As Prince Charles, he also visited the United States 19 times.
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman and Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY
