WASHINGTON D.C April 28, 2026 – Britain’s King Charles III made history Tuesday by addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress, becoming the first British monarch to do so since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991.
The address, part of the monarch’s first state visit to the United States as king, marked the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary of independence in 2026. In a light-hearted moment that drew laughter and smiles from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the King quipped about the enduring cultural ties between the two nations.
“And for all of that time, our destinies as nations have been interlinked. As Oscar Wilde said, ‘We have really everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language!‘” Charles said, eliciting chuckles from the chamber.
The remark, a playful twist on a classic quip often attributed to George Bernard Shaw or Oscar Wilde, underscored the King’s theme of reconciliation and partnership 250 years after the American Revolution. The full speech highlighted the “unbreakable bond” between the U.S. and U.K., emphasizing shared democratic values, security cooperation, and global prosperity despite occasional differences.
Fox News captured the moment in a viral clip posted shortly after the address, which quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of views and sparked widespread reactions online.
Congress gave the King a warm, bipartisan reception, with multiple standing ovations reported during the roughly 20-minute speech. President Donald Trump was not in attendance, according to reports, amid ongoing political tensions.
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