'We stand united': King Charles praises US-UK ties in rare address to Congress amid political tensions

King Charles III gave a rare address to a joint session of U.S. Congress on Tuesday, marking only the second time a British monarch has done so since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991.

During the roughly 30-minute long speech, Charles acknowledged the political uncertainties around the globe, but also praised longstanding U.S.-U.K. relations.

"Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries," he said.

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Charles also commended 250 years of U.S. independence and highlighted the shared democratic principles of both the U.S. and the U.K.

"Standing here today, it is hard not to feel the weight of history on my shoulder because the modern relationship between our two Nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries," Charles said. "It is extraordinary to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of Sovereigns to study, with daily attention, the affairs of America. So, I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress; this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms."

The king closed out his speech by calling on the U.S. and U.K. to rededicate to each other "in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world."

As part of his multi-day diplomatic visit to the U.S., Charles will also attend a state dinner hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday night. He said he also plans to visit New York to pay respects to the victims and families impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks 25 years ago.

The rare trip from the British king comes amid tensions between Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, particularly regarding the Iran war. Starmer has vehemently opposed getting involved, and Trump has called the prime minister a "loser" for not offering to assist the U.S. military in its war.

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Meanwhile, security remains tight and access is strictly controlled during this trip as questions persist about Charles' relationship with his son, Prince Harry, who lives in the U.S. Additionally, victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein were in Washington, D.C., calling for a meeting with the king, though a meeting was never scheduled.

Charles' brother, Andrew, has also recently dominated royal family controversy over allegations of misconduct with Epstein. The allegations prompted a criminal investigation in the U.K. and led to the king stripping Andrew of his royal titles.