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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 29, 2026, 9:07 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 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 29, 2026 7:14 PM

Charles, Camilla pay respects at 9/11 Memorial

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, arrive at the 9/11 Memorial during a state visit to the United States, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters
Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with former Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, arrive at the 9/11 Memorial during a state visit to the United States, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Charles and Camilla’s first stop in New York City Wednesday was the National 9/11 Memorial, where they met with families of Sept. 11, 2001, victims and first responders.

The royals were greeted by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who showed them the memorial and stood by their side as they laid a bouquet of flowers.

PHOTO: Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chairman of the National September 11 Memorial, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial during a state visit, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, chairman of the National September 11 Memorial, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial during a state visit, April 29, 2026 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The flowers were accompanied by a note that read, “We honour the memory of all those who so tragically lost their lives on 11th September 2001, and stand in enduring solidarity with the American people in the face of such profound loss. Charles R Camilla R," according to reporters who are traveling with the king and queen.

PHOTO: A bouquet of flowers with a note from Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla lies at the 9/11 Memorial, during their state visit to the United States, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
A bouquet of flowers with a note from Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla lies at the 9/11 Memorial, during their state visit to the United States, in New York City, April 29, 2026.
Jeenah Moon/Reuters

Other elected officials in attendance at the memorial were New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill.


Apr 28, 2026 7:38 PM

Packed chamber, standing ovations, laughter: Something we don't see often in divided times

PHOTO: Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson applaud the arrival of Britain's King Charles III to speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, April 28, 2026.
Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images
Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson applaud the arrival of Britain's King Charles III to speak to a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, April 28, 2026.
Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

It's something that we don't see often in a divided Congress: a packed chamber, full of laughter, unity and standing ovations.

The laughter in the chamber is echoing off the walls. The king has had to stop a few times to allow for more laughter and applause.

Democrats and Republicans are listening attentively -- more than they do with a president even from their own party.

-ABC News' Rachel Scott


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