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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, 6:18 PM

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 6:18 PM

King and queen watch a parade in Front Royal, Virginia

PHOTO: A Kerry Hill Welsh lamb, which was just born, is shown to King Charles III during a parade and block party in Front Royal, Virginia, April 30, 2026.
Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
A Kerry Hill Welsh lamb, which was just born, is shown to King Charles III during a parade and block party in Front Royal, Virginia, April 30, 2026.
Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, Charles and Camilla celebrated with locals in Front Royal, Virginia, a small town nearly 70 miles outside of Washington, D.C.

The king and queen got a taste of America as they watched marching bands, cheerleaders and classic cars take part in a parade down the town’s main street. At one point, the royals stopped to greet members of the Front Royal Little League baseball team.

PHOTO: King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet the Virginia state champions Front Royal Little League baseball team during a parade and block party event, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet the Virginia state champions Front Royal Little League baseball team during a parade and block party event, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Getty Images

Locals decked out in red, white and blue also lined the town's streets to get a glimpse of Charles and Camilla.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people during a parade on the final day of their state visit, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Va.
Matt Rourke/AP
Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people during a parade on the final day of their state visit, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Va.
Matt Rourke/AP

The royals were joined at the parade by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger and Front Royal Mayor Lori Athey Cockrell.

PHOTO: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Front Royal Mayor Lori A. Cockrell, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a parade and block party event, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Front Royal Mayor Lori A. Cockrell, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom Yvette Cooper attend a parade and block party event, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people during a parade and block party on the final day of the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Pool/AFP via Getty Images
Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla greet people during a parade and block party on the final day of the state visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.
Win McNamee/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Apr 30, 2026 4:39 PM

The king and queen honor fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery

Charles and Camilla are spending some of their last remaining hours in the United States paying tribute to fallen soldiers and honoring the United States military alliance with the U.K. at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

While visiting the landmark, the king placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring unidentified soldiers whose lives were lost in combat. The queen placed a posy next to the wreath.

PHOTO: King Charles III arrives to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, April 30, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.
Saul Loeb/Pool/ via Getty Images
King Charles III arrives to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, April 30, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia.
Saul Loeb/Pool/ via Getty Images

The royal couple were greeted with a 21-gun salute.

Thirty-two British Commonwealth soldiers are among the 400,000 veterans buried at Arlington National Cemetery, according to a press release from the British Embassy.

The king and queen went on to visit the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, "a monument to the more than 40,000 US citizens and residents who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force and lost their lives in the First World War," according to the release.


Apr 30, 2026 3:06 PM

Charles, Camilla say goodbye to Trumps

PHOTO: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand with Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House, in Washington, April 30, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand with Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at the White House, in Washington, April 30, 2026.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Charles and Camilla started the final day of their U.S. state visit Thursday with a stop at the White House to say goodbye to President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

The two couples posed together and engaged in conversation outside the White House after spending much of the past three days together.

The Trumps hosted Charles and Camilla for a state dinner Tuesday night and greeted them earlier in the day with a ceremonial welcome at the White House.

On Monday, the two couples also spent time together at the White House, enjoying afternoon tea and inspecting the White House beehive.



Apr 30, 2026 1:37 PM

Empire State Building lights up for king, queen

After Charles and Camilla spent the day in New York City, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks paid tribute to the king and queen.

The Empire State Building lit up Wednesday night with the colors of red, white, blue and gold.

The colors were chosen, “in honor of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s royal visit to New York,” according to a post on X.

Tonight, the Empire State Building shines Red, White, Blue, and Gold in honor of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s royal visit to New York.Text CONNECT to 274-16 for real-time lighting alerts. See the lights live: https://t.co/hz2FQavwPl pic.twitter.com/LlSn8e0Lcq

— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) April 29, 2026

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.


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