first visit to the United States as a British monarch is drawing fresh comparisons to Queen Elizabeth II’s historic trips â with royal experts noting that he appears to be charting a more candid and at times subtly political path than his late mother, while still adhering to the monarchys carefully controlled playbook.
Charles and his wife arrived in Washington, D.C. earlier this week for a state visit in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence and their four-day trip also included stops in New York and Virginia.
Elizabeth visited the US multiple times during her reign, making several high-profile trips that helped reinforce the longstanding alliance between the two nations. Prior to her death in 2022, the queen last traveled to the country in 2007 to celebrate the anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams pointed out that Charles’ trip comes at a time of increased tensions between U.S President and the leaders of several European countries.
“In recent weeks there has been a series of public disagreements between President , especially [U.K. Prime Minister] Sir Keir Starmer,” Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital.
“America’s relations with , the bedrock of American security, are in question with differing views about the war with Iran,” he continued. “There have been angry exchanges over Greenland, Canada, the use of British bases to attack Iran from, the Falklands and rows over personalities.”
Fitzwilliams shared his view that Charles approach marked a notable shift from the late queens famously restrained , explaining that the king navigated a delicate diplomatic moment with a slightly more expressive and personal touch.
He went on to praise some of Charles’ most public-facing moments, including his and appearance at the White House state dinner on Tuesday, which he explained signaled a confident communicator stepping into his own.
“The king’s speeches, to Congress and at the state dinner, were marvellous, incisive, full of humorous touches and informative,” Fitzwilliams said.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich shared her opinion that Charles struck a slightly different tone than Elizabeth had during her previous visits, pointing to a blend of tradition with a more modern edge.
“King Charles II has inserted even more comic humor than his mother and he was unusually somewhat political with some of his comments,” she told Fox News Digital.
Royal commentator Meredith Constant told Fox News Digital that she believes the shift reflects a monarch intent on .
“In his speech, the work that ‘our generation’ has left to do,” she said. “King Charles doesn’t want to be viewed as a transitional King; he wants to make a real impact.”
“Establishing a new special relationship between the U.S. that nods to the past while looking to the future is one way to do that,” Constant continued. “I don’t think the Queen would have been as outspoken as Charles was in his speech to Congress about the environment and the rule of law.”
Constant noted that Charles’ willingness to publicly address current geopolitical and policy issues marked a departure from Elizabeths approach, given the royal familys long-standing tradition of political neutrality.
“It might not have sounded like much to most Americans, but King Charles is not a political figure,” she explained. “Speaking openly about and calling on the government to protect the environment is pretty momentous.”
However, Fordwich and Constant emphasized that Charles does not appear to have abandoned the core principles that defined Elizabeths reign.
“He very much echoed his mothers dignified playbook,” Fordwich said. “Focused on what unites us versus what divides us.”
“Charles comes from the old guard of European monarchs,” Constant said. “You can see his mother’s impact in how he operates, but he’s also his own person.”
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