King Charles US visit live: Trump claims we ‘have had no closer friends than the British’ during awkward speech

The state visit is under heightened security after Saturday’s shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner
President Donald Trump has said his mother had a crush on King Charles when he was younger as part of his ceremonial welcome speech.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were officially greeted with a state ceremony by president Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on the second day of the historic state visit.

Standing at the podium and reflecting on the “special relationship”, he reflected on his Scottish mother, Mary Macleod Trump.

“I also remember her saying very clearly, Charles.

Look, young Charles.

He's so cute.”
The monarchs shook hands with members of the US delegation including JD Vance and Pete Hegseth, while Trump shook hands with foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and UK ambassador to the US Sir Christian Turner before the national anthems played.

It comes as the monarch is set to give a historic address to Congress, the second time a British monarch has done so after Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

He is expected to say that while the UK and the US have not always agreed on everything, they have “always found ways to come together” amid strains to the “special relationship” from the Iran war.

UK ambassador to Washington says America’s only ‘special relationship’ is with Israel, not Britain
Ceremonial welcome has come to an end - but the state visit is only just beginning
The ceremonial welcome has come to an end.

King Charles III and President Trump have also exchanged gifts as the monarch signed the official White House guestbook.

Here is the official schedule for day two:
11.40 AM local time (4.40PM BST) - Bilateral meeting between Trump and Charles.

11.45 AM local time (4.45PM BST) - Camilla and Melania join Students in exploring US-UK history through innovation.

3.00 PM local time (8.00 PM BST) - Estimated time Charles is expected to give a speech to congress.

7.00 PM local (midnight BST) - Trump and Melania will greet the King and Queen again before a tour and document viewing.

8.05pm local (1.00 AM BST) - The state banquet is set to take place.

Trump: Americans have had no closer friends than the British
US president Donald Trump said “Americans have had no closer friends than the British” at a ceremonial welcome for the King and Queen on the lawn of the White House.

Trump: 'no tribute more appropriate' than celebrating US independence by honouring the King
US president Donald Trump has said “no tribute could be more appropriate” for celebrating US independence than the honouring King.

In a ceremony at the White House, the president said: “Honouring the British king, might seem an ironic beginning to our celebration of 250 years of American independence, but, in fact, no tribute could be more appropriate.

“Long before Americans had a nation or a constitution, we first had a culture, a character and a creed.

“Before we ever proclaimed our independence, Americans carried within us the rarest of gifts, moral courage, and it came from a small but mighty kingdom from across the sea.

“For nearly two centuries before the revolution, this land was settled and forged by men, women who bore their souls, the blood and noble spirit of the British here on a wild and untamed continent.

“They set loose the ancient English love of liberty and the Great Britain’s distinctive sense of glory, destiny and pride.”
Watch: Trump makes awkward joke about marriage to Melania during King Charles visit
King Charles reacts to Donald Trump saying his mother had a crush on him as a young prince
Trump reflects on Britain's 'greatest prime minister' - Winston Churchill
President Trump appeared to make a jibe about Sir Keir Starmer as he made reference to “Britain’s greatest prime minister”, Sir Winston Churchill.

In his speech, he said: “It’s said that when Prime Minister Churchill first met this future king, many decades ago, he was so impressed.

He made the statement ‘he is so young to think so much and so well.’ and the bust of your great Prime Minister rests proudly again in the Oval Office.

He added: “The world has witnessed that same thoughtfulness which first struck Britain's greatest prime minister.”
Trump makes awkward joke about marriage to Melania amid ceremonial speech
Speaking about his parents, Donald Trump reflected on his own marriage to Melania.

“My mother and Fred, they were married for 63 years,” he said, before joking that he and Melania, who have been married for two decades, might not last as long.

Trump remembers his Scottish mother, who had a crush on Charles
President Trump has just said that his mother had a crush on now King Charles.

Reflecting on Mary Macleod Trump, he said: “I also remember her saying very clearly, Charles...

He's so cute.

“My mother had a crush on Charles.”
His mother was born in Scotland in 1912.

Trump comments on British weather in the rain
US President Donald Trump said, standing at a podium decorated with the presidential seal, said, referring to the rainy weather: “Thank you very much everybody.

What a beautiful British day this is.”
He said it was a “tremendous privilege to host” the King and Queen and called the King a “very elegant man”.

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