King Charles and Queen Camilla began wrapping up their four-day state visit to the United States on Thursday with a very early stop at the White House to bid farewell to President Donald Trump.
The official reason for the royal visit was to mark the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from British colonial rule.
But it was also designed to improve what Charles called the “unbreakable bond” and “indispensable alliance” between the two countries at Tuesday’s state dinner with Trump.
“When you like the king of a country so much, it probably helps your relationship with the prime minister,” Trump said after the king’s arrival.
Posing for photos on the red carpet outside the South Portico of the White House on Thursday morning, Trump, who is often denounced as a future king by political opponents, pointed to the monarch and said: “He’s the greatest king in my book.”
The two accompanied Camilla and first lady Melania Trump inside, came back five minutes later, and the royals got into their car to tour several sites in Virginia.
“Great people,” Trump said to the departing motorcade. “We need more people like this in our country.”
Later, the royal couple will fly to Bermuda for Charles’s first visit to the British territory, which, unlike the US, has not gained independence.
