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King Charles III, Queen Camilla conclude US state visit

PHOTO: King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a community block party and pot luck celebrating America's 250th 'birthday', on April 30, 2026, in Front Royal, Virginia.
1:50
Aaron Chown, Pool via Getty Images
King Charles and Queen Camilla visit New York City
By Mason Leib, Alexandra Hutzler, Katie Kindelan
Last Updated: April 30, 2026, 3:27 AM

King  Charles III and  Queen Camilla concluded their first-ever  state visit to the United States on Thursday, wrapping up a whirlwind four days that took them to Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia. 

The royals' visit took place amid significant  strains between the U.K. and the U.S. over the war in Iran. It also happened under the shadow of Charles' brother  Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's connection to the ongoing  Epstein scandal.

Charles took Washington by storm, delivering a rare joint address to Congress and garnering good cheer with his toast at a White House state dinner. In New York City, the king and queen mixed with celebrities and locals alike before traveling to Virginia to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Scroll below to see how the visit unfolded.


Apr 30, 2026 3:27 AM

Charles and Camilla finish New York trip with King's Trust dinner

The king and queen wrapped up their time in New York with a dinner at Christie’s in New York City for the Greater Together Reception which is held in partnership with the King's Trust.

Attending the dinner were cultural figures including Anna Wintour, Charlotte Tilbury, Donatella Versace, Edward Enninful, Iman, Karen Elson, Katherine Jenkins, Leo Woodall, Lionel Richie, Martha Stewart, Meghann Fahy, Nina Dobrev, Pat McGrath, Stella McCartney and Ralph Lauren, according to reporters who are traveling with the king and queen.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III speaks during the Greater Together Reception, partner of King's Trust at Christie's in New York, on April 29, 2026.
Spencer Platt, Pool via AFP via Getty Images
Britain's King Charles III speaks during the Greater Together Reception, partner of King's Trust at Christie's in New York, on April 29, 2026.
Spencer Platt, Pool via AFP via Getty Images

The King's Trust charity in America works with young people to develop employment training.

Ambassador Christian Turner, Lionel Richie and the king shared remarks at the event, according to a pool report.


Apr 29, 2026 9:07 PM

Charles meets with top business leaders

PHOTO: King Charles III attends a UK-U.S. trade event in Bar SixtyFive at Rockefeller Center during a state visit, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
King Charles III attends a UK-U.S. trade event in Bar SixtyFive at Rockefeller Center during a state visit, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Charles went from gardening with children to meeting with top CEOs Wednesday in New York City.

At an afternoon reception held on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center, Charles met with leaders of companies including Bank of America, Blackstone, JP Morgan, Comcast, Citigroup and Alphabet.

The king shook hands with the business leaders and talked to them about their careers and how they’re investing in the U.K., according to reporters traveling with him.

Charles then went onto a bigger meeting with 50 more executives who snacked on canapes and ice tea and wine while they spoke with the king about their work in areas including technology, healthcare, financial services and more.


Apr 29, 2026 8:40 PM

Camilla talks books with Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour

PHOTO: Britain's Queen Camilla speaks to Sarah Jessica Parker as she attends a literacy event at the New York Public Library in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Richard Drew/via Reuters
Britain's Queen Camilla speaks to Sarah Jessica Parker as she attends a literacy event at the New York Public Library in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Richard Drew/via Reuters

Camilla was joined by a star-studded lineup at a solo event held at the New York Public Library Wednesday.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker, Vogue’s Anna Wintour, singer Katherine Jenkins and authors Min Jin Lee and Harlan Coben were among the luminaries who gathered with Camilla at an event to promote her charity, the Queen’s Reading Room, which celebrates the power of reading.

PHOTO: Queen Camilla greets Global Editorial Director of Vogue Anna Wintour during a visit to the New York Public Library for a literacy event, April 29, 2026, in New York City.
Ryan Murphy/Pool via Getty Images
Queen Camilla greets Global Editorial Director of Vogue Anna Wintour during a visit to the New York Public Library for a literacy event, April 29, 2026, in New York City.
Ryan Murphy/Pool via Getty Images

“The first Americans, I met in life were the characters I met in my treasured childhood novels,” Camilla said in her remarks, according to reporters traveling with the queen. “I knew even then, the books are best friends you can have, in good times and bad.”

PHOTO: Queen Camilla visits the New York Public Library with Sarah Jessica Parker to attend a literary event in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
Queen Camilla visits the New York Public Library with Sarah Jessica Parker to attend a literary event in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

She continued, “As many of us long suspected, books really are good for us. They also have a magic way of bringing people together with the ability to transcend any barrier."



Apr 29, 2026 9:06 PM

Charles helps school kids feed chickens

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III helps feed chickens during a visit to Harlem Grown, a local community organization and after-school initiative, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Britain's King Charles III helps feed chickens during a visit to Harlem Grown, a local community organization and after-school initiative, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

After a series of formal events, Charles got to spend time outdoors with children Wednesday afternoon in New York.

The king, a known environmentalist, visited Harlem Grown, a nonprofit organization that helps teach kids about urban farming, sustainability, and nutrition, according to its website.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III receives a letter from a young attendee during an event at Harlem Grown, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Angelina Katsanis/Pool via Getty Images
Britain's King Charles III receives a letter from a young attendee during an event at Harlem Grown, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Angelina Katsanis/Pool via Getty Images

Charles was seen leaning over a fence to feed chickens alongside a group of kids during the visit.


Apr 27, 2026 5:35 PM

A look back at King Charles' trips to America

King Charles has visited the United States 19 times before but today will mark his first state visit as a monarch.

Charles’ first trip to the U.S. was in 1970 when the 21-year-old Prince of Wales traveled with his sister Princess Anne and were guests of the Nixons.

PHOTO: President Richard Nixon greets Prince Charles at the White House, July 18, 1970 in Washington.
Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images
President Richard Nixon greets Prince Charles at the White House, July 18, 1970 in Washington.
Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

Charles also traveled to Los Angeles in 1974 where he met and struck up a friendship with Barbra Streisand.

PHOTO: Prince Charles meets with singer Barbra Streisand at the Warner Bros. studio, March 19, 1974 in Los Angeles.
Mark Sennet/Getty Images
Prince Charles meets with singer Barbra Streisand at the Warner Bros. studio, March 19, 1974 in Los Angeles.
Mark Sennet/Getty Images

In 1985 Charles, accompanied by Princess Diana, met the Reagans at the White House. It was on this trip that Diana famously danced with John Travolta.

In 2005 Charles took Camilla to see the Bushes on their first official overseas trip since their marriage, and in 2015 the couple returned to the White House as guests of the Obamas.

This trip will have echoes of previous royal visits when Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited the United States in July 1976 for the 200th anniversary of American independence. More recently, in 1991 Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address Congress.


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