I Thought I’d Seen It All Covering the Royals. Then I Saw King Charles in Small-Town Virginia

King Charles and Queen Camilla drew crowds to Front Royal, Virginia, during their U.S. visit

People Erin Hill; King Charles and Queen Camilla in Front Royal, VirginiaCredit: Erin Hill;  Aaron Chown - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

  • Locals called it a “once in a lifetime” moment as the royal couple rolled through the small town

  • After years covering the royals, one reporter found the visit felt unexpectedly close to home

I’ve covered the royal family for PEOPLE for more than a decade — from London to Montecito, from palace announcements to private moments — but I never expected to find myself back in my home state of Virginia, standing onMain Street in Front Royal, waiting forKing CharlesandQueen Camillato arrive.

And yet, there I was in the Shenandoah Valley — not far from where I went to school at James Madison University — watching Union Jacks and American flags wave side by side under bright blue skies, helicopters buzzing overhead ahead of the royal couple's arrival and a bluegrass band playing as the crowd gathered.

It felt surreal. And unexpectedly personal. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” someone said behind me. They weren’t wrong.

The small town — where, as one local put it, “everyone kind of knows each other” — had turned out by the thousands to see Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, make their royal arrival amid theirhistoric U.S. visit, which also saw themmake stops in D.C.andNew York City. Families lined the street, toddlers perched on shoulders, teenagers off from school, retirees in folding chairs. At one point, I overheard an adult reassure a child, “It won’t be too long — the King and Queen are coming soon.”

Even the town’s name carries a royal echo: local lore traces Front Royal to a British command during the Revolutionary War — “Front the Royal Oak!” — later shortened, while another theory suggests it was once a Revolutionary War password, with “Front” answered by “Royal.”

Attendees await King Charles and Queen Camilla during a community block party in Front Royal, Virginia, on April 30, 2026Credit: Aaron Chown - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage

For Regan Jones, 71, who walked about a mile from her home just up the road with her husband Robert, 77, the moment carried real weight. “We’ll never get closer to the King,” Regan told me. “We just wanted to participate in this big event. Glorious occasion.”

Robert shook his head, still taking it in: “It’s amazing… the King picked Front Royal of all places in Virginia to come visit.”

But what struck me most was how honestly they talked about their town.

“It’s history… going back to the Revolution, the Civil War,” Robert said, before Regan added, without hesitation, “The good and the bad. The bad part is…its segregation history. But we’ve made great strides. We’re a small community that’s been pulling together over the years. It’s a good place to live.”

Crowds in Front Royal, Virginia, on April 30, 2026Credit: Win McNamee/Getty

Related:Union Jack Flag Flown Upside Down During King Charles and Queen Camilla's Visit to Arlington Cemetery

What also stayed with me was how many people were still talking about theKing’s speech to Congresson April 28. It's achieved something we don’t often see in America right now — a moment that cut across divisions, drawing standing ovations from both sides of the aisle for its message of peace, faith and understanding — and, for many, the surprise of his wit.

As one watcher told me, “His humor was not on my 2026 bingo card — but he won me over.”

After a reign that has so far been marked by turbulence — fromhis cancer diagnosistoongoing family tensions— this felt like a defining moment for the King: a chance to step onto the global stage and show who he is — personable, reflective, modern in his own way, and, yes, even funny.

That mix of pride and perspective — of looking forward while acknowledging the past — felt like the real story of the day.

A few feet away, Bella Hallebrandt, 28, had come from nearby Stephens City with her husband and their 2-year-old son after spotting the visit on Facebook.

“I had to double check,” she said with a laugh. “I was like, wait, really? It almost feels random and weird… but amazing. Royalty coming through? I’m just kind of mind blown that this is happening at all.”

King Chars greets well-wishers in Front Royal, VirginiaCredit: Aaron Chown - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage

Her son won’t remember it, she admitted — but one day, “we’ll tell him he saw a King and Queen.”

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Then there was Jude O’Donnell, 18, who showed up with his friends from his high school's debate team — all dressed in suits.

“We just thought, let’s go all in,” he told me. “This is a really huge moment. I’ve never seen royalty before…this is probably the biggest thing that’s happened here.”

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Front Royal Mayor Lori A. Cockrell, King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the U.K. Yvette Cooper on April 30, 2026 in Front Royal, Virginia.Credit: Win McNamee/Getty

Looking around at the crowd, he summed it up simply: “The whole vibe is just very cool…everyone’s come together. It feels very united.”

And then, with a grin, he added what everyone was thinking: “It is kind of funny — you’ve got the King of England, who we fought for independence from, coming back…but in a way, it feels like it’s bringing America and England together a little bit.”

People wait to see King Charles and Queen Camilla in Front Royal, VirginiaCredit: Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty

As the motorcade approached — emergency vehicles and official cars rolling through, more Secret Service than you could count — the energy shifted instantly. Cheers erupted. The town’s championship Little League team stood lined up, waiting for their moment to greet the monarch. Children were told they were about to see “a king and queen from a different country.” Phones went up. People craned their necks.

And then — there he was. After years of covering royal tours in major cities and carefully choreographed palace moments, what stood out most here wasn’t the pomp — it was the proximity. The novelty. The disbelief.

King Charles meets a Little League Baseball team in Front Royal, Virginia on April 30, 2026Credit: Aaron Chown - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage

At one point, as King Charles moved down the line, he shook hands with children and thanked them for coming — even jokingly acknowledging they had “taken off school” to be there.

As the motorcade passed after the 40-minute visit, no one rushed to leave. Crowds lingered, pressing against barricades, hoping for just one more glimpse.

“I thought it was pretty excellent,” Stephanie Mangino, 53, of Stephens City, Va., told me. “I’m an Anglophile from way back…it was too good to pass up.”

She paused, still taking it in. “I never, ever thought I would see the King of England in a gazebo in Front Royal, Virginia.”

Neither did I.

King Charles greets the public in Front Royal, Virginia, on April 30, 2026Credit: Aaron Chown - Pool via Samir Hussein/WireImage

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This was the monarchy, improbably and unmistakably, meeting small-town America.

Standing there in the Shenandoah Valley — where I once went to school at James Madison University — it wasn’t lost on me that even our mascot, the Duke Dog, wears a crown.

And for all the distance that usually surrounds the royal family, this moment felt surprisingly close.

Not history books. Not headlines. Just a small town, a sunny day — and a King, right in front of us.

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I Thought I’d Seen It All Covering the Royals. Then I Saw King Charles in Small-Town Virginia

King Charles and Queen Camilla drew crowds to Front Royal, Virginia, during their U.S. visit NEED TO KNOW Locals c...
Taye Diggs Recalls Hilarious Onstage Mishap While Performing in “Wicked ”with Ex-Wife Idina Menzel: 'Everybody Laughed' (Exclusive)

Taye Diggs has one Broadway moment that sticks in his head from when he was in Wicked with then-wife Idina Menzel

People Taye DiggsCredit: Jesse Grant/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • Diggs stepped in to play Fiyero in the beloved musical in December 2003 opposite Menzel's Elphaba

  • The actor spoke with PEOPLE about the moment at the opening night of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

The audience may have long forgotten, but there’s one stage mistake that sticks out inTaye Diggs’ mind.

At the opening night ofJoe Turner’s Come and Goneat The Barrymore Theatre in New York City on April 25, Diggs shares with PEOPLE one of his most "memorable moments" from his time on the Broadway stage.

“I was doingWickedwith my then-wifeIdina [Menzel], and I was playing the Scarecrow and there was this moment when I'm supposed to swing out on stage and I'm supposed to throw the broomstick to Idina and I threw the broomstick and it almost went offstage,” Diggs recalls.

He tells PEOPLE that the blunder stunned Menzel — and the audience.

“Everybody laughed. I will never forget that," he adds. "I was so excited to be in the show with my then wife and be the cool guy that comes swinging out. I threw the broom."

Idina Menzel (left) shares a broom with her

Diggs got his start on Broadway as part of the ensemble in the 1994 revival ofCarousel.Two years later, he got his breakout role as Benjamin Coffin III in the original production ofRent,which opened up doors for him to enter the world of television and film.

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He temporarily joined the cast ofWickedin December 2003 as Fiyero alongside Menzel, who played Elphaba. The original cast also featured Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda), Joel Grey (The Wizard), Carole Shelley (Madame Morrible), Michelle Federer (Nessarose), Christopher Fitzgerald (Boq), William Youmans (Doctor Dillamond) and Norbert Leo Butz, who played Fiyero but had to briefly step away due to a back injury, passing the role to Diggs.

Diggs and Menzel weremarried from 2003 to 2014,and the pairshare a son, Walker.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Idina Menzel (L) and Taye Diggs attend the 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild AwardsCredit: Jason Merritt/WireImage

While no stranger to the stage, Diggs recently toldPEOPLEthat when hereturned to Broadway after a 10-year hiatusto play The Duke of Monroth inMoulin Rouge! The Musical,he was “way more scared than I thought I would be,” since “Broadway was where I got my start.”

“There's nothing like being in front of a live audience, but it had been over 10 years since I'd been on stage, so I did not take into account the fear and the terror that I would go through," he admits. "But once I was obviously well rehearsed and once you get out there, there's no turning back, then I was able to appreciate why I'm there in the first place."

"That love for theater, there's nothing like it," he continues. "I'd like to do more. I'm just gonna remember how scared I was that time to be prepared."

Read the original article onPeople

Taye Diggs Recalls Hilarious Onstage Mishap While Performing in “Wicked ”with Ex-Wife Idina Menzel: 'Everybody Laughed' (Exclusive)

Taye Diggs has one Broadway moment that sticks in his head from when he was in Wicked with then-wife Idina Menzel NEED TO KNOW ...
Anatomy of a Classic: The Chanel 25 Bag

"Hearst Magazines and AOL may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Town & Country Fashion handbag with a spotted design.

It was like a scene out ofMean Girls. DuringParis Fashion Week, Girl World and Animal World collided spectacularly at Chanel boutiques across the city, as editors, influencers, and VIPs clawed their way throughMatthieu Blazy’s debut ready-to-wearcollection, fighting over those seafoam-green square-toe slingbacks, as well as a certain ludicrously capacious black bag. The hysteria soon went global, with reports of pandemonium at Chanel stores from London to New York to Aspen.

It was a curious phenomenon, but perhaps not much of a surprise. A good reputation—coupled with the twin forces of algorithmic whiplash and limited inventory—tends to yield such results. Before Chanel, Blazy spent three years as creative director at Bottega Veneta, where he established his MO of brilliantly subverting house codes with millennial verve and just the right hint of #IYKYK. Except, well, now everyone knows.

Blazy’s Métiers d’Art collection hits stores this month (you’ve been warned) and includes those bouclés and quarter-zips and the new Chanel 25. Named as a nod to the iconic 2.55, it comes in three sizes and—speaking of millennial savoir-faire—has a pair of iPhone-size side pockets. We like the leopard-print above—which is made of textured leather—for its big cat energy.

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Chanel25 handbag from the 2026 Métiers d’Art collection, 800-550-0005

Interior label of a designer handbag Fashion model wearing a leopard print coat and matching hat. Close-up of a luxury handbag featuring a gold Chanel logo on a spotted pattern. Gold chain handle attached to a spotted fur handbag.

This story appears in the May 2026 issue ofTown & Country.SUBSCRIBE NOW

Photography by David SchulzeFashion & Accessories Director Dania Lucero OrtizProp styling by Alexandra Massillon at Holly Corbett Represents

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Anatomy of a Classic: The Chanel 25 Bag

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Rescue group set to buy 1,500 beagles from Wisconsin facility targeted by violent protests

Animal welfare organisations have announced an agreement to purchase nearly 1,500 beagles from a Wisconsin dog breeding and research facility, which recently became the scene of a violent confrontation between activists and police. The incident earlier this month saw law enforcement use tear gas and pepper spray to repel campaigners attempting to breach the premises.

The Independent US A photograph of a Beagle howling (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy confirmed a confidential deal with Ridglan Farms to acquire 1,500 of the approximately 2,000 beagles housed there, for an undisclosed sum. The fate of the remaining dogs at the facility remains uncertain. Ridglan Farms has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, expressed her delight to The Associated Press, stating: "It's a very big win and I am ecstatic to have these dogs out and get them into loving homes." Ms Simmons declined to elaborate on the financial terms of the agreement, its duration, or the precise number of beagles still at Ridglan following the transaction.

The 1,500 beagles are scheduled for transport later this week from Ridglan to various partner agencies, as well as to Big Dog Ranch Rescue’s own facilities in Florida and Alabama. There, they will undergo medical examinations, microchipping, and vaccinations before being evaluated for adoption.

Ms Simmons highlighted the significant adjustment these animals face: "These dogs need to learn to walk on a leash. They need to learn to live in a home environment, be housebroken, spayed and neutered." She added that should an adoption not prove successful, the dogs are always welcome to return to Big Dog Ranch Rescue, which operates the largest cage-free, no-kill dog rescue in the US from its Loxahatchee, Florida, facility.

Animal rights activists protesting in the Wisconsin State Capitol show off wounds they say they suffered when they clashed with police two days earlier outside of a dog breeding and research facility, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Animal activists have been pushing for 10 years to have the dogs at Ridglan Farms adopted, not sold to other research facilities.

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Simmons said her group was not involved in the recent protests that drew increased attention on Ridglan, but she credited activists with raising awareness about what was happening.

“What they did was put the message out," Simmons said of the activists. “What we did, we wanted to do legally and in the best way and for the best outcome of these dogs for the future.”

About 1,000 activists from across the country came to Ridglan Farms in rural Blue Mounds in an attempt on April 18 to take the beagles kept there about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital,Madison. They were met by police who repelled them with tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray. The Dane County Sheriff’s Department said 29 people were arrested and five face felony burglary charges.

Law enforcement in riot gear walk in a field after animal welfare activists attempted to gain entry to Ridglan Farms beagle breeding and research facility on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Blue Mounds, Wis. (Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) (Wisconsin State Journal)

Activists filed a federal lawsuit inWisconsinlast week alleging that police used unnecessary force to repel those trying to break into the facility and take the dogs. Ridglan has said those who tried to break in were a “violent mob” who launched “an assault on a federally licensed research facility."

In March, activists broke into Ridglan and left with 30 beagles. Sixty-three people were referred from the sheriff's department to the district attorney for potential charges related to that break in.

Ridglan Farms agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges. Ridglan Farms has denied mistreating animals, but a special prosecutor determined that Ridglan Farms was performing eye procedures on the dogs that violated state veterinary standards.

Rescue group set to buy 1,500 beagles from Wisconsin facility targeted by violent protests

Animal welfare organisations have announced an agreement to purchase nearly 1,500 beagles from a Wisconsin dog breeding and research fa...
Vince Gill encouraged wife Amy Grant to 'live the life that you get' after her traumatic brain injury, she says

Amy Grant said husband Vince Gill encouraged her during her health problems in recent years by giving her perspective.

Entertainment Weekly Amy Grant and Vince Gill in 2025Credit: Terry Wyatt/Getty

Key Points

  • The "Takes a Little Time" singer has had open-heart surgery, a brain injury, and surgery on her throat and shoulder since 2020.

  • She will release her first album in a decade, The Me That Remains, May 8.

Amy Grant has been through several health struggles in the last few years, but husband Vince Gill has helped her stay hopeful.

"I just remember saying to Vince, 'What if this is all I get back? What if this is it?'" the "Baby, Baby" singer said Thursday on NPR'sWild Card With Rachel Martin. "Because, to me, it's like the world is in a conversation, and I am down the hall and in a back bedroom [when it comes to] my response time."

Grant, 65, has endured open-heart surgery, a brain injury, and surgery on her throat and shoulder since 2020.

"He just said, 'Amy, life happens to every one of us every day,'" Grant recalled. "A virtuoso musician could have a stroke and never be able to pick up their instrument again. All you do is you just take the hand you're dealt that day and live the life that you get."

Amy Grant and Vince Gill perform together in 2021Credit: Jason Kempin/Getty

That's been difficult for the six-time Grammy winner who appreciates a good joke and likes to drop her own one-liners.

But "that doesn’t happen when you're like three steps behind the rest of the room," she said.

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Her physical challenges have also included having to learn to sing again, following the traumatic brain injury she suffered in a July 2022 crash on her bike that left her with loss of short-term memory, balance problems, and a cyst in her throat that needed to be removed.

Grant married Gill, a music star in his own right, in 2000. She was previously married to Gary Chapman, with whom she shares three adult children. She and Gill share daughter Corrina, who's 25.

Grant has released multiple albums since then, including the upcoming and very personalThe Me That Remains, which, she told NPR, was inspired by her return to touring in 2023. She found herself looking at the audience, full of people about her age, and wondering.

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with ourEW Dispatch newsletter.

"At some point,," Grant asked herself, "am I doing us all a disservice by not writing about what life feels like now?"

Grant's new album,The Me That Remains, is available May 8.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

Vince Gill encouraged wife Amy Grant to 'live the life that you get' after her traumatic brain injury, she says

Amy Grant said husband Vince Gill encouraged her during her health problems in recent years by giving her perspective. Key Points...
Royal Photographer Details What It Was Like to Have a 'Front Row Seat' to Kate Middleton and Prince William's Wedding

Longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson reflected on capturing Kate Middleton and Prince William's 2011 wedding

People Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day in 2011, in a photo taken by Chris Jackson.Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

  • The royal couple marked their 15th anniversary on April 29 with a surprise visit to a London charity

  • Kate Middleton and Prince William also shared a new family photo with their three children

A longtime royal photographer is reflecting onKate MiddletonandPrince William's wedding day on the couple's 15th anniversary.

On Wednesday, April 29, photographerChris Jacksonof Getty Images shared one of his photos of the royal couple's 2011 wedding toInstagram, alongside a caption about what it was like to have a "front row seat" to the historic event.

"I’m often asked about my favorite royal photos," Jackson, who has followed the British royal family for over 20 years, began his caption. "Always a tough question after almost 25 years of snapping away, however, this moment, 15 years ago today has to be up there..."

He continued: "Not just due to the history and spectacle of the moment but the period of excitement and optimism it represented. The build up to the Royal Wedding of the (now) Prince and Princess of Wales was full of optimism, patriotism and excitement."

"To have this privileged ‘front row’ seat to such a historic moment is something I will never take for granted or forget," Jackson concluded.

Prince William exchanges rings with his bride Catherine Middleton in front of the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams inside Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.Credit: Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty

The royal couple is celebrating the 15th anniversary of their April 29, 2011, wedding, which was held at Westminster Abbey and attended by approximately 1,900 guests (while millions more watched on TV).

On Wednesday, William, 43, and Kate, 44, marked their milestone anniversary bymaking an unannounced visitto a charity in London.

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The charity, IntoUniversity, holds special meaning for the royal couple, as it was one of 26 charities that benefited from their Royal Wedding Gift Fund, which was set up to allow guests who wished to give the couple a gift the opportunity to donate to select charities instead.

Kate Middleton and Prince William on April 29, 2026.Credit: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

While there, the couple — who coordinated in blue blazers — joined a group of students from a nearby primary school as they took part in some of the charity's free educational activities and workshops.

Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess of Wales alsoshared a new photoof their family in honor of their anniversary.

The loving snap featured William and Kate lying in a field alongside their three children,Prince George, 12,Princess Charlotte, 10, andPrince Louis, 8. The image was captioned "Celebrating 15 years of marriage ❤️".

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Prince William and Princess Kate first met while studying at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. They dated off and on before getting engaged in 2010.

Read the original article onPeople

Royal Photographer Details What It Was Like to Have a 'Front Row Seat' to Kate Middleton and Prince William's Wedding

Longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson reflected on capturing Kate Middleton and Prince William's 2011 wedding NEED TO KNO...
King Charles III visit live updates: Charles, Camilla welcomed at White House

KingCharles IIIandQueen Camillaare making their first-everstate visitto the U.S., visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia.The royals’ visit comes at a heightened time, following ashooting incidentoutside the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and amid newstrainsbetween the U.K. and the U.S. over the war in Iran. It’s also happening under the shadow of Charles' brotherAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor'sconnection to the ongoingEpstein scandal.

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During the visit, Charles will deliver a rare joint address to Congress and there will be a state dinner at the White House.

Latest Developments

Apr 28, 10:55 AMKing Charles, Queen Camilla arrive for ceremonial welcome at White House

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the South Portico of the White House for a formal state arrival ceremony. They are being greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump.Notable officials are gathered on the White House South Lawn in rainy weather for the ceremony that will include a review of the troops, remarks by Trump and more.

Apr 28, 10:09 AMStrained US-UK alliance in spotlight amid state visit

Matt Mcclain/Reuters - PHOTO: U.S. and British flags, and pins are prepared on a chair ahead of the arrival ceremony at the White House for Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla amid their state visit to the U.S., in Washington, April 28, 2026.

President Trump is hosting King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House as the "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom is under a microscope amid the war with Iran.While Trump has repeatedly praised King Charles as a "friend" whom he's known for years, his relationship with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been another story. The president has repeatedly assailed the U.K. and other NATO allies over the U.S. and Israeli war with Iran.Trump said the visit from the king -- the U.K.'s constitutional and ceremonial head of state -- may help restore any damaged ties between the two allies."Absolutely. He's fantastic. He's a fantastic man. Absolutely the answer is yes," Trump told the BBC in a phone interview when asked if the visit could help repair the relationship.Read morehere.-ABC News' Nicholas Kerr

Apr 28, 10:05 AMKing Charles to be welcomed at White House: What to expect

Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla walk on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will welcome Great Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House South Lawn later this morning.Thousands of guests are anticipated to be in attendance, including Cabinet officials, U.S. and U.K. delegations, members of Congress, students from the British International School of Washington and more.The official arrival of the king and queen will begin with a traditional military arrival ceremony by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, a "tradition that dates back to the 18th century," the first lady’s office said. The national anthems of both countries will then be played by the U.S. Marine Band, followed by the Presidential Salute Battery rendering a 21-gun cannon salute."Following an Inspection of the Troops and a Troop in Review, facilitated by the U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps, the President will deliver remarks from the South Lawn," the first lady's office said in a press release.-ABC News' Emily Chang

Apr 27, 6:41 PMCharles, Camilla view White House beehive

Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Britain's King Charles III look at the White House garden and bee hive on the South Lawn of the White House, April 27, 2026, in Washington.

Charles and Camilla were shown the White House beehive by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during their visit Monday.Videos sharedon social mediaby a top White House aide show the president and first lady and the king and queen inspecting a new White House-shaped beehive that is part of an expansion announced by the first lady last week.Two other beehives have been on the south grounds of the White House since 2009,according toThe Associated Press.

Apr 27, 4:45 PMRoyals arrive at the White House

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at the White House. The king and queen were greeted by President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on a red carpet outside the White House after landing at Joint Base Andrews earlier today.The couples posed for photos briefly.

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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greet Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Queen Camilla upon arrival at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026. Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla for afternoon tea on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, April 27, 2026.

Apr 27, 3:30 PMBritish Embassy shares behind-the-scenes garden party prep

The British Embassy shared abehind-the-scenes look onMonday at how it is preparing for a garden party welcoming Charles and Camilla to the U.S.The garden party, hosted at the embassy residence in Washington, D.C., will include 650 guests who will snack on four types of tea sandwiches as well as scones and desserts.The embassy’s head chef said the team is preparing nearly 3,000 tea sandwiches for the party.

Apr 27, 3:06 PMThe king and queen greet UK ambassador

Charles and Camilla were greeted by the U.K. ambassador and two children with posies as they deplaned on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla disembark the plane on arrival for a state visit to the United States at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, April 27, 2026.

Apr 27, 2:43 PMThe king and queen arrive in the US

Their plane landed at Joint Base Andrews moments ago.

Win McNamee/Getty Images - PHOTO: A plane carrying King Charles III and Queen Camila taxis on day one of their State Visit to the United States, April 27, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Apr 27, 1:34 PMA look back at King Charles' trips to America

King Charles has visited the United States 19 times before but today will mark his first state visit as a monarch.Charles’ first trip to the U.S. was in 1970 when the 21-year-old Prince of Wales traveled with his sister Princess Anne and were guests of the Nixons.

Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Richard Nixon greets Prince Charles at the White House, July 18, 1970 in Washington.

Charles also traveled to Los Angeles in 1974 where he met and struck up a friendship with Barbra Streisand.

Mark Sennet/Getty Images - PHOTO: Prince Charles meets with singer Barbra Streisand at the Warner Bros. studio, March 19, 1974 in Los Angeles.

In 1985 Charles, accompanied by Princess Diana, met the Reagans at the White House. It was on this trip that Diana famously danced with John Travolta.In 2005 Charles took Camilla to see the Bushes on their first official overseas trip since their marriage, and in 2015 the couple returned to the White House as guests of the Obamas.This trip will have echoes of previous royal visits when Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth II, visited the United States in July 1976 for the 200th anniversary of American independence. More recently, in 1991 Elizabeth became the first British monarch to address Congress.

Apr 27, 12:42 PMWill Epstein scandal linger over royals' visit?

The royals' visit to the U.S. comes amid the ongoingJeffrey Epstein scandalthat has rocked both sides of the Atlantic and directly entangled the royal family.Charles' younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor wasarrestedin February on suspicion of misconduct in public office following theemergence of documentsfrom the U.S. Department of Justice’s files detailing communication between Mountbatten-Windsor and the late Epstein, a convicted sex offender.Charles, Camilla and other members of the royal family have faced heckling at public events in the U.K. over the family’s handling of Andrew. Following his brother’s arrest,Charles saidauthorities have the palace’s “wholehearted support and cooperation,” adding, "Let me state clearly: the law must take its course."The former prince has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, and has not been charged.

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King Charles III visit live updates: Charles, Camilla welcomed at White House

KingCharles IIIandQueen Camillaare making their first-everstate visitto the U.S., visiting Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia...

 

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