King Charles III has extended a special invitation to US President Joe Biden for a state visit to the UK after Biden's decision to miss the monarch's coronation in May. During a press briefing on April 5, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that the president had accepted the king's offer and would visit the UK "in the near future." Although no specific date has been set, Jean-Pierre said Biden was "appreciative of the offer" and "looks forward" to the trip.
The announcement followed a phone call between the president and King Charles III, lasting approximately 25 to 30 minutes. According to Jean-Pierre, Biden "congratulated the king" on his upcoming coronation, and the conversation was "friendly," reflecting their "good relationship." The president also mentioned his 2021 meeting with the late Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor and his desire to return to the UK soon.
Jean-Pierre emphasized the shared concerns of both leaders, particularly in relation to climate change. The White House's official readout of the call underscored the strength of the relationship between the US and the UK, as well as the friendship between their people. President Biden informed King Charles III that First Lady Jill Biden would attend the coronation on behalf of the United States and expressed his intention to meet with the king in the UK at a later date.
The last US president to undertake a state visit to the UK was Donald Trump in 2019. Both Barack Obama and George W. Bush also made state visits to the country during their terms. State visits are issued at the invitation of the reigning monarch, but they are approved and financed by the government. Buckingham Palace has not yet disclosed when and where the visit will take place.
King Charles III's coronation is scheduled for May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London. Although some have claimed that President Biden snubbed the coronation invitation, no American president has attended the coronation of a British monarch to date. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained to Newsweek that the state visit announcement was significant, as it emphasized the importance of the US-UK "special relationship" during the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Fitzwilliams also suggested that a return state visit might be in the works, with President Biden inviting King Charles III to the US. The last such visit occurred in 2007 when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip commemorated the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement.
