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King Charles III on Tuesday delivered an optimistic assessment of American-British relations at what is arguably their lowest point in decades, telling a joint meeting of Congress that the two countries had always found a way to come together.

“The very principle on which your Congress was founded — no taxation without representation — was at once a fundamental disagreement between us, and at the same time a shared democratic value which you inherited from us,” the king said. “Ours is a partnership born out of dispute.”

True to form, King Charles has devoted a large chunk of his speech to environmentalism and “the natural wonders” of the United States. He spoke about what Teddy Roosevelt called “the glorious heritage of this land’s extraordinary natural splendor, of which so much of its prosperity has always depended.” This has been his life’s great passion.

Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, sits unmoved, looking toward the dais, as the king mentions trade relations between the U.S. and Britain.

“We celebrate the $430 billion in annual trade that continues to grow; the $1.7 trillion in mutual investment that fuels that innovation; and the millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic supported across both economies,” King Charles says, adding that “these are strong foundations on which to continue to build.”

King Charles notes that Britain and the U.S. have supported each other in “two world wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan, and moments that have defined our shared security.” He then says, “that same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine.” His comments are notable given it comes as Trump has insulted the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, questioning his leadership and lack of support for the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.The subtext of this part of the king’s speech: Climate change is real, and NATO matters.

The king says that the same unified support for the United States in the aftermath of Sept. 11 attacks “is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people — in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.”

Many of the themes the king has mentioned — the foundations of democracy, the assurances of checks and balances, and how thoughtful debate strengthens the legislative process — land at a time when this Congress has ceded much of its authority to President Trump.

Lawmakers have spent much of this session battling through gridlock and dysfunction to get anything passed. Even today, it is unclear if a host of large legislative priorities around national security, agriculture, and food assistance, will be able to pass before critical deadlines.

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King Charles

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