King Charles will deliver a historic address to Congress at 3pm ET today.

It is the first address from a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth’s in 1991.

The king is expected to emphasize the two countries’ long history and shared democratic values during his speech in an effort to help strengthen the special UK-US relationship, which has been under serious strain in recent months.

Sources told CNN that Charles will say that he brings ‘the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States.’

He will focus on the common ties between the two countries, including ‘democratic, legal and social traditions’ and that ‘time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together.’

Ahead of the ceremony there were gray skies over the South Lawn and a very British drizzle began.

The forecast had been for sun so many of the several hundred guests on the grass had come unprepared.

They huddled under a smattering of umbrellas as they awaited the President and King.

A protective green tarpaulin was placed over the dais, which was positioned in front of the South Portico between a giant flagpole and the presidential putting green.

Despite the gloom overhead, guests including school children enthusiastically waved small Union Jacks as the band played.

Former British Olympian Tom Daley met the King and Queen at the embassy garden party on Monday.

Daley, who now lives in the United States with his husband, told People that Camilla asked about his children.

‘She asked what I was up to now and told her about my knitting, and she asked about my kids. She couldn’t believe how old they were now,’ he said.

Daley also said he spoke to Charles about knitting.

‘He said he used to knit when he was 8 years old. He said he wasn’t very good at it but said he knew it was very good for mental health and maybe should give it another go.’

British ambassador to the US Christian Turner said the UK and the US ‘share the same objective on Iran.’

‘There was a disagreement originally about the preemptive start to the war, but since then, the UK has been allowing its bases to be used for US bombers to make defensive strikes,’ he told Fox and Friends this morning.

‘We’ve had our planes flying alongside the rest of the defensive US systems in the region.’

He said that UK wants the war to end and to ‘hopefully get a deal that opens the Straits of Hormuz for all of our economies.’

The Royal Family posted on social media highlighting their time at yesterday’s garden party at the British Embassy.

‘This evening, Their Majesties spent time with brilliant people contributing to the UK-US relationship,’ the Royal Family wrote on X.

‘Hosted at the British Ambassador’s Residence, the first royal event to ever take place here was another Garden Party, held during King George VI and Queen Elizabeth I’s State Visit in 1939.’

Here is what’s on the schedule for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s second day in the US.

• 10.35am ET – Royals arrive at the White House
• 11.10am ET – Guestbook signing and official gift exchange
• 11.40am ET – Donald Trump and King Charles participate in a bilateral meeting at the Oval Office
• 11.45am ET – First Lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla join students in exploring US-UK history through innovation at the White House tennis pavilion
• 3pm ET – King Charles delivers at joint address to Congress
• 7pm ET – Royals return to the White House
• 8.05pm ET – The President and First Lady host the King and Queen for a state dinner

The US President and First Lady sipped on one of King Charles’ favourite teas as he and Queen Camilla kicked off day one of their state visit.

The royals drank the monarch’s favoured Earl Grey blend and enjoyed cakes and sandwiches as they arrived in Washington, DC for what is expected to be a landmark trip amid strained transatlantic ties.

The British Embassy in Washington shared photos of British flags lining the streets in the US capital.

‘With Washington bedecked in UK, US, and DC flags, King Charles III and Queen Camilla continue their historic State Visit today!’ the embassy wrote on X.

‘Celebrating America in its 250th year, they will join the President and First Lady for a ceremonial arrival at the White House this morning.

‘In the afternoon, the King will speak to a Joint Session of Congress, a high honour for a visiting head of state. In the evening, Their Majesties will participate in a State Banquet at the White House.’

Donald Trump praised Daily Mail reporting from Robert Hardman that traced his linage to King Charles.

‘Wow, that’s nice. I’ve always wanted to live in Buckingham Palace!!! I’ll talk to the King and Queen about this in a few minutes!!!’ he wrote on Truth Social.

The Daily Mail discovered that President Trump and the King are cousins.

King Charles and Queen Camilla have faced calls to meet with the victims of Jeffrey Epstein during their visit to the United States.

Charles’ brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid the probe into Epstein files.

Representative Ro Khanna urged the king over the weekend to at least address the issue during his congressional speech.

Several of Epstein’s victims, including family members of Virginia Giuffre, have also urged Charles to meet with them or address the issue.

‘This is a missed opportunity,’ Sky Roberts, Giuffre’s brother, told Sky News.

‘It means something to look into a survivor’s eyes and say: “I promise to give you a fair and thorough investigation in this, and that does not matter if it’s my brother or if it’s other perpetrators out there. I, the King of England, stand with survivors.”‘

The royals are opting not to meet with the survivors because they conscious that a meeting may affect the results of British legal inquiries into Epstein’s close relationships with senior members of the British government and royal family, sources told CNN.