King Charles III is scheduled to address a joint session of the US Congress on April 28 as part of his state visit to the United States. The appearance will make Charles only the second British monarch in 250 years to receive this honor, following Queen Elizabeth II's address to Congress in 1991.

The visit comes amid what Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged are "strained" relations between the UK and US. Tensions have emerged following reported disputes between President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over various policy matters.

Streeting advised the British public to judge Trump on "what he does, not just what he says" in response to what he characterized as "outrageous" social media posts from the US President. The comments reflect ongoing diplomatic challenges between the two nations.

The state visit will include both the congressional address and a separate White House state banquet. Prime Minister Starmer reportedly hopes the visit will help restore the UK-US "special relationship" that has faced recent strains.

Public opinion polling in Britain indicates opposition to the visit among most respondents, though the specific reasons for this opposition were not detailed in available reports. The visit represents a significant diplomatic moment for the relatively new monarch as he navigates complex international relationships early in his reign.