
King Charles made a quip about Prince William (Image: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images))
King Charles has prompted laughter from White House State Dinner attendees with his wit and humour during his speech. His Majesty delivered a memorable 13-minute address, bringing both humour and a level of poignancy to the second day of his landmark American visit alongside Queen Camilla.
Charles first charmed his audience by noting how British royal heritage remains etched across the American landscape, describing the nation’s maps as resembling “our Christmas card list across the ages.”
He added examples, adding a mention to both his son and grandson: “North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the cities of Charleston – a particular favourite of mine, obviously – Georgetown – and, for that matter, Georgia – Annapolis, Prince William County and Williamsburg.”
He added that the American character had long been defined by “courage, tenacity and the spirit of adventure”, adding that across generations the two nations had “traded, innovated and created together” and “stood together in the best of times and worst of times”.
The evening marked a return to the rare white tie dress code at the White House, a formality not witnessed since Queen Elizabeth II’s visit in 2007.
Before making their way into the White House, Trump praised Charles for his earlier speech to Congress, joking that he was jealous of the King’s performance.
Pointing at the monarch, Trump said: “He made a great speech, I was very jealous.”

King Charles received an applause and laughter from attendees (Image: GETTY)
