Mission accomplished as king’s speech to Congress goes down a storm
King Charles III delivered a polished and diplomatic address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress, invoking shared history, literature, and democratic values while avoiding contentious modern issues. His speech, marked by humor and references to figures like Wilde, Dickens, and Lincoln, was met with bipartisan applause. The visit underscored the enduring 'special relationship' between the UK and the US, even as political contrasts with President Donald Trump loomed in the background. Charles’s carefully measured tone avoided direct criticism but included subtle nods to democratic norms and international cooperation.
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JD Vance and Mike Johnson applaud King Charles at the Capitol building in Washington. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenJD Vance and Mike Johnson applaud King Charles at the Capitol building in Washington. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty ImagesThe US politics sketchDonald TrumpMission accomplished as king’s speech to Congress goes down a storm Charles quoted Wilde and Dickens in measured masterclass – and no tirade as yet from mad monarch in White HouseDavid Smith in WashingtonTue 28 Apr 2026 16.57 EDTLast modified on Tue 28 Apr 2026 17.19 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA flick of Oscar Wilde here, a nod to Henry Kissinger there, a sprinkling of Charles Dickens here, a dollop of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt there.
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