King Charles and Queen Camilla round off state visit to United States

King Charles and Queen Camilla have completed their highly successful four-day state visit to the United States.

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the United States has come to an end. It has turned out to be one of the most successful state visits in recent memory. The recent four days saw the King and Queen of the United Kingdom immersed in American culture, and the two were ingratiated into American society.

The King and Queen completed their final day in the States with a visit to Virginia.

Their Majesties first bid a formal farewell to President and First Lady Trump at the White House, leaving Washington, D.C. Upon arrival, President Trump pointed to King Charles and said, “He’s the greatest King, in my book.”

The two couples met briefly inside the Diplomatic Reception Room before heading back to the South Portico for pleasantries.

Just after the royal couple departed the White House, President Trump posted to Truth Social, the President’s own social media network, that he was to remove the tariffs on Scottish whiskey in honour of Their Majesties state visit. 

(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

Charles and Camilla then crossed the Potomac River for a solemn ceremony at the national cemetery.

Arlington National Cemetery (ANC)—where around 430,00 individuals are laid to rest and embodies the history of the nation—welcomed the King and Queen with full honours, being met with a 21-gun salute.

(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

The grounds honour those who have served the nation and provide a sense of beauty and peace for guests. Rolling green hills are dotted with trees hundreds of years old, with the landscape serving as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest.

Similar to the Grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, the national cemetery houses a “Tomb to the Unknown Soldier” on the Memorial Amphitheatre’s east plaza, which is the cemetery’s most iconic location for mourning and remembrance.

Dedicated on 11th November 1921 with the burial of the Unknown from WWI, the site also features crypts for the fallen of WWII, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars, and a white marble Tomb sarcophagus. The location of remembrance is guarded by soldiers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.

(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

The King and Queen paid their respects at the Tomb with His Majesty laying a wreath and Her Majesty laying flowers. Charles and Camilla then headed to Arlington’s Display Room, where Their Majesties were given a tour of an exhibition by the Executive Director, Karen Durham-Aguilera, and Senior Historian Dr Allison Finkelstein.

(U.S. Army photo by Elizabeth Fraser / Arlington National Cemetery / released)

The King and Queen also viewed the Canadian Cross of Sacrifice, dedicated to US citizens who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and lost their lives in the First World War.

Picture by Ben Dance / FCDO

On a more celebratory note, Their Majesties then attended a street party in the small Virginia town of Front Royal. Home to around 15,000 people, King Charles and Queen Camilla, who have been treated to some of the finest dishes in the world, were treated to apple-butter doughnuts, pulled pork, chicken wings, cheeseburgers and iconic Girl Scout cookies.

Picture by Ben Dance / FCDO

The King and Queen then separated with differing itineraries. King Charles visited the mountains of Shenandoah National Park, where he learned about the U.S. National Park system’s educational programmes and the work that Rangers do to protect their unique environments. The 200,000 acres welcomes over 1.7 million visitors a year.

Picture by Ben Dance / FCDO

His Majesty also met with members of the Monacan Indian Nation—one of the remaining tribes in the U.S. that occupies some of their ancestral homeland—comprised of approximately 2,000 registered members. Chief Shields of the Monacan Indian Nation said,

We are honoured to meet with King Charles III in our historic territory to renew and reaffirm our Nation-to-Nation relationship that was first established in the 1680 Treaty of Middle Plantation between our Monacan ancestors and King Charles II. I look forward to sharing our deep connection to nature and the importance of indigenous land stewardship.

For Queen Camilla’s final stop of the U.S. trip, the Queen paid a visit to Smitten Farm. Her Majesty met with breeders, conservationists, and organisations supporting retired racehorses, highlighting the equestrian industry’s health and welfare efforts. While at the farm, Camilla also met with officials from the ‘Thoroughbred Transition Project (TTP)‘. The non-profit provides individualised care and retraining for retired racehorses.

King Charles was seen off at the airport later in the afternoon by, among others, the Chief of Protocol of the United States, Monica Crowley, as well as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States, H.E. Sir Christian Turner.

The King now begins a solo royal visit to the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda.