Royalty, Glamour, and Notable Guests: Highlights from the UK State Dinner | Vanity Fair

On Tuesday night, King Charles III and Queen Camilla joined President Donald Trump, first lady Melania, and a long list of luminaries at the White House. After a day of events and engagements, they broke bread, rubbed elbows, and toasted to more than two centuries of friendship that followed the Revolutionary War. (And, okay, the War of 1812.)

When the royals host a banquet at Buckingham Palace, the dress code is usually white tie, which gives everyone an opportunity to break out their finest heirloom tiaras. But American state dinners tend to be comparatively more casual, with a black-tie dress code—except, it seems, for this year. Tonight, according to CNN, Trump hosted America’s first white-tie dinner since 2007, and the first lady wore a pink Dior gown.

Though etiquette rules might have allowed for a tiara, the queen’s head was unadorned. She had a priceless piece from the royal jewelry collection hanging from her neck. The queen wore an amethyst necklace that once belonged to Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent. The queen herself wore the matching amethyst brooch on her trip to Washington in 1991.

Earlier Tuesday, King Charles III became the second British monarch to deliver an address in front of both houses of Congress after his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, addressed Congress in 1991. Though the speech was likely written by the government—in keeping with long-standing tradition that the monarch speaks for the government during high-profile oration—the king did find a way to put his own flair on a few of the jokes, and got plenty of laughs from Congress.

At the banquet, he continued to play up the humor, and his speech could be heard as a loving roast of the US-UK relationship—and his family’s role in it. “My family’s history remains reflected in your maps, which read rather like our Christmas card list across the ages,” he said. “North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the cities of Charleston, a particular favorite of mine. Obviously, Georgetown, and for that matter, Georgia, Annapolis, as you mentioned, and further favorites, Prince William County and Williamsburg.”

He continued with a line that referenced an earlier speech of Trump’s. “Indeed, you recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German,” he said. “Dare I say that if it wasn't for us, you’d be speaking French?”

Here are all the images from the UK state dinner:

A U.S. Military Color Guard prepares to welcome King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

President Trump and Melania Trump host King Charles and Queen Camilla during a State Dinner in the East Room of the White House.

Queen Camilla and First Lady Melania Trump enter The White House.

Apple CEO Tim Cook arrives.

Trump speaks with King Charles III.

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the White House.

The king and queen pose with the President and First Lady at the base of the Grand Staircase.

A view of a place setting.

Queen Camilla, King Charles, and President Trump.

King Charles speaks as Trump looks on during the state dinner.

Lauren Sanchez Bezos attends the state dinner.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks with President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner before the state dinner.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) at the state dinner.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks with Kushner.

Guests listen to King Charles.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio listens to President Donald Trump speak.

Sen. Lindsey Graham at the state dinner.

Donald Trump makes remarks in the East Room.

Northern Irish professional golfer Rory McIlroy attends the State Dinner.

King Charles presents a bell with the inscription “Trump 1944” as a gift to US President Donald Trump.

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