King Charles III, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, Drew Attention During Their 4-Day US Visit As New Photos Ignited Buzz Among Royal Fans and Revealed How It Went

A historic royal visit, a White House welcome, and a handful of moments no one could ignore — the opening day had it all, and the photos at the end of this article reveal even more.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla's state visit to the United States began with a closely watched and highly symbolic meeting on 27 April 2026 at the White House, where diplomacy, ceremony, and unscripted moments quickly drew global attention.

His Majesty the King, 77, and the Queen, 78, touched down in Washington, D.C., to begin a four-day visit, the first British royal state visit to the United States since the late Queen Elizabeth II made the trip in 2007.

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received the royal couple at the White House for afternoon tea on day one, the formal opening of a programme spanning Washington, D.C., New York City, and Virginia, arranged to mark America's 250th anniversary of independence.

As for the welcome on the South Lawn, it was warm enough in places. Melania and Queen Camilla greeted each other in a close embrace on the red carpet, while King Charles III and Donald exchanged words beside them.

The two couples later toured the White House beehive and moved through to the South Lawn garden, where they posed alongside a white architectural model of the president's proposed ballroom, displayed on a latticed garden table and surrounded by flowering plants in full bloom.

In the photos, King Charles III appeared in a navy pinstripe suit, with the American president also wearing navy. Queen Camilla wore an ivory coat dress with black embroidered detailing while Melania donned a pale yellow structured jacket and skirt.

It looked, on the surface, like a composed and well-ordered occasion. For royal fans watching footage of the initial greeting, however, there were moments that simply could not be ignored.

One person bluntly remarked, "Zero etiquette from 🇺🇸," while another questioned, "Did no one coach them on how to properly greet the king and queen? Urgh." A similar sentiment followed, with one comment reading, "No curtsy, no bow, no respect 😮."

Attention also shifted to the handshake between King Charles III and the American president. "That is the most bizarre handshake ever," one netizen typed, as others scrutinised the body language more closely.

"Watch their handshake. Trump tries to do that 'I'm dominant and I will pull you to me. Cuz [sic] I'm in control!!' But King Charles wasn't having it and kept pulling back. 😂😭," one person shared.

Another netizen added, "Trump wouldn't let go of our kings [sic] hand. You can physically see Charles pulling away and Trump pulling him back."

Beyond etiquette debates, some reactions took a broader tone. "The king and queen should have stayed home. The entire world should boycott Trump. He doesn't deserve any credibility," one comment read.

Despite the online discourse, the first day of the visit proceeded as planned, with both sides presenting a united and courteous front in keeping with diplomatic tradition.

And for those eager to see how it all played out, the images below offer a closer look at the moments that sparked conversation around the world.

And while the White House visit offered a snapshot of King Charles III's role on the global stage, it also arrives at a moment when the monarch continues to reflect on the legacy that shaped him.

King Charles III marked what would have been Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday on 21 April 2026 with a deeply personal tribute that struck an emotional chord across the nation, blending reflection, duty, and enduring love into a moment of quiet remembrance at Balmoral Castle.

Speaking from the library of the late monarch's Scottish residence, the very place where the late Queen spent her final days, the King delivered a recorded message in which he honoured his "beloved mother" and reflected on a reign that shaped generations.

He opened by pausing, on behalf of the whole family, to reflect on "the life and loss of a sovereign who meant so much to us all."

The breadth of Queen Elizabeth II's influence, he noted, had touched countless lives across the nation, the Commonwealth, and beyond over the course of nearly a century marked by extraordinary change.

Through it all, His Majesty said, she remained "constant, steadfast, and wholly devoted to the people she served." He went on to speak about the different ways people carry her memory — some through great moments of national significance, others through something far more personal.

He recalled "a fleeting personal encounter, a smile, a kind word that lifted spirits," as well as the now-iconic moment that captured something of her warmth perfectly: "that marvellous twinkle of the eye when sharing a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear in the final months of her life."

Turning to the present day, the King suggested that much about the current times may have troubled his mother deeply, but said he took heart from her belief that goodness would always prevail.

He drew on Queen Elizabeth II's very first public broadcast, delivered when she was just 14 years old, to reinforce that conviction, quoting her words that "we can each play our part to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place" — a belief he shared entirely.

Rather than allowing the day to be overshadowed by grief, he urged people to see it not as the marking of an absence, but as "the celebration of a life well-lived and a legacy of hope."

King Charles III closed with a renewal of his own pledge of duty and service, before ending with the words that will have caught in the throat of anyone listening. "God bless you, darling Mama. You remain forever in our hearts and prayers," he said.

The King's tribute quickly resonated beyond royal circles and reached far beyond British shores, as one viewer from across the pond wrote, "The Queen was a beautiful lady with a beautiful smile."

"I'm from the United States, and was so sad to hear about her passing. What a wonderful tribute from a son to his mother. Happy Birthday, to the lovely Queen Elizabeth," they added.

Another netizen shared, "It's not easy to forget such a Mother, Such a care and The exceptional Motherly duty that She played forever. Her memories live on forever [sic]."

Yet, not all reactions were purely sentimental. Some focused on the King's observation that modern times might have troubled the late Queen, with one person remarking, "May have been? She's turning over in her grave!" while another typed, "WE ARE ALL TROUBLED BIG BOY."

A more critical voice added, "Dude is so deeply uncharismatic he has to rely on the dead queen to express his views on the world with any sort of impact," as someone else commented, "Don't put words into her mouth."

Despite the mixed responses, the King's message stood as a defining moment in the centenary commemorations — one that balanced public duty with private grief.

The tribute formed part of a broader series of commemorations led by the royal family on 21 April. At Buckingham Palace, King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted a reception attended by senior royals, including Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince William, and Princess Catherine.

Guests gathered as a celebratory cake was cut, surrounded by photographs, postcards, and nods to the late Queen's well-known affection for Paddington Bear.

Earlier in the day, the King and Queen, accompanied by Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, visited the British Museum earlier in the day to view a scale model of the forthcoming national memorial dedicated to Queen Elizabeth II — who passed away on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle.

Meanwhile, Princess Anne formally opened The Queen Elizabeth II Garden at Regent's Park, adding a living tribute to the capital. The day concluded with a video montage tracing the late monarch's life, from childhood through her record-breaking reign.

King Charles III's words, paired with a day of carefully considered commemorations, underscored not only a life of service but a bond between mother and son that continues to resonate.

That story is perhaps told most powerfully through the moments captured across the years — and readers can explore those moving images for themselves just below.