Britain’s King Charles has acknowledged victims of sexual abuse in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal highlighting in a speech to Congress the “collective strength” of the UK and US to support survivors.
Charles delivered an address to both houses on Capitol Hill telling the assembled politicians the partnership between the two nations is “more important today than it has ever been”.
And he said when Britain and America drew on their common values to come together: “This, I believe, is the special ingredient in our relationship”.
The attempted assassination of president Donald Trump at a Washington media dinner on Saturday evening was condemned by Charles who said “such acts of violence will never succeed.”
During his speech in the Hall of the House, whose public and press galleries were packed, the king spoke of the importance of Nato, the value of European partners and the need to reduce world conflicts, stemming the “beating of ploughshares into swords”, all priorities for Keir Starmer’s government.
With Britain’s Queen Camilla sitting nearby Charles said: “Distinguished members of the 119th Congress, it is here in these very halls that this spirit of liberty and the promise of America’s Founders is present in every session and every vote cast.
“Not by the will of one, but by the deliberation of many, representing the living mosaic of the United States.
“In both of our countries, it is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that, so tragically, exist in both our societies today.”
There have been repeated calls by the family of Virginia Giuffre, a victim of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, for a meeting with Charles and Camilla, but sources have previously said the couple will not meet them.
The legal implications of Charles and Camilla coming into contact with any survivors of paedophile financier Epstein, and the king’s constitutional position, make a meeting impossible while there are ongoing UK police investigations into matters related to Epstein.
Charles is midway through a four-day state visit to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and he spoke about bonds between former enemies, the US and Britain.
“The Alliance that our two Nations have built over the centuries – and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people – is truly unique,” said Charles.
Addressing Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, He went on to say: “That partnership, I believe Mr Speaker, is more important today than it has ever been.”
Guest speakers on Capitol Hill traditional receive brief standing ovations on points that resonate with politicians and Charles was afforded that honour when he mentioned the gun attack against the president.
He said: “We meet, too, in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your nation and to foment wider fear and discord.
“Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed.
“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.”
There were murmurs of approval from a number of Democrats when Charles told the chamber: “America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence.
“The actions of this great nation matter even more.”
And notably, when the monarch called for the same “unyielding resolve” to be shown for Ukraine as that in the wake of the 9/11 attacks a number of members on the Republican side of the chamber did not rise to their feet with others and clap.
Charles received applause and cheers when he described America’s Founding Fathers as “bold and imaginative rebels with a cause” and made the senators and members of the House of Representatives laugh when he added: “Two hundred and fifty years ago – or, as we say in the United Kingdom, just the other day – they declared Independence.”
The chamber gave 12 brief standing ovations during Charles’ speech and also stood up and applauded for a few minutes when he first arrived and made his way to the lectern with the Queen.
A Buckingham Palaces spokesperson said: “The King was deeply honoured to have been invited to be the first British king to give such an address and was greatly touched by the warmth and generosity of the response he received.”
