'Let our two countries rededicate ourselves': King Charles III says after weeks of U.S-U.K. tension

King Charles III urged the U.S. and the U.K to "rededicate" themselves towards the service of their peoples. Relations between the two countries have been under stress since the war in Iran started, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer refused to directly involve the United Kingdom in President Donald Trump's military effort in Iran. The President, however, looked forward to welcoming the King. As per the BBC, he believed that the visit could help relations between the two historic allies. The King became only the second British Monarch to address both houses of Congress. The first was his mother in 1991.

"Let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world. God bless the United States, and God bless the United Kingdom," King Charles said, inviting a rousing applause. King Charles also said that while the relationship between the two countries was born out of a dispute, it was "no less strong for it." He also said that the U.S. and the U.K. were "instinctively like-minded."

He said that the two countries had always found ways to "come together," and when that happened, it used to benefit people around the world. "As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable," he said.

Earlier in his address, the monarch spoke about the U.S. and the U.K having one of the most "consequential alliances" in human history, which he prayed would defend their "shared values with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth." He also said that while "America's words carry weight and meaning," its actions mattered even more. "President Lincoln understood this so well with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address, that the world may little note what we say but will never forget what we do," he said.

The King condemned the shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, calling it an "act of violence" that would "never succeed." "Whatever our differences or 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," he added. 

King Charles III also spoke about 9/11 being the only time when NATO's Article 5 was invoked, and several countries came to the U.S's aid. He urged a similar response for Ukraine. "That same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people," he said, adding, "The commitment and expertise of the United States armed forces and its allies lies at the heart of NATO." The King said that NATO's defense, security, and intelligence ties were "hardwired together" thanks to relationships that were built over "decades."