By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press
King Charles III has arrived in the United States on a four-day state visit aimed at celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary. The trip beginning Monday comes amid strained trans-Atlantic ties partly over disagreements between the U.K. government and President Donald Trump on issues including the Iran war. The Republican president has praised Charles but criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting military action. The visit of Charles and Queen Camilla includes a White House state dinner and a speech to Congress. They also will visit the Sept. 11 memorial in New York and attend a 250th birthday party in Virginia.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla have visited the Vatican to pray with Pope Leo XIV. This historic meeting aims to strengthen ties between the Church of England and the Catholic Church. The event on Thursday marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of these two churches have prayed together. The visit comes amid renewed scrutiny of the British royal family over Prince Andrew's ties with Jeffrey Epstein. Charles' and Camilla's visit had been planned for earlier in the year but was rescheduled after Pope Francis's illness and death. The meeting included discussions on ecological sustainability, a priority for both Charles and the Vatican.