Date: April 28, 2026
Location: House Chamber, U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of Congress, representatives of the American people:
I would like, if I may, to take this opportunity to express my particular gratitude to you all for the great honour of addressing this Joint Meeting of Congress and, on behalf of The Queen and myself, to thank the American people for welcoming us to the United States to mark this semi-quincentennial year of the Declaration of Independence.
Standing here today, it is hard not to feel the weight of history on my shoulder—because the modern relationship between our two Nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries. I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress; this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms.
The “Tale of Two Georges”
This is a city which symbolises a period in our shared history, or what Charles Dickens might have called ‘A Tale of Two Georges’: the first President, George Washington, and my five-times Great Grandfather, King George III. King George never set foot in America and, please rest assured, I am not here as part of some cunning rearguard action!
The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. 250 years ago—or, as we say in the United Kingdom, just the other day—they declared Independence. We can perhaps agree that we do not always agree—at least in the first instance! Indeed, the very principle on which your Congress was founded—no taxation without representation—was at once a fundamental disagreement between us, and at the same time a shared democratic value which you inherited from us. Ours is a partnership born out of dispute, but no less strong for it.
On Global Security and Ukraine
So, ladies and gentlemen, we meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East. It is an era that is, in many ways, more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late mother spoke, in this chamber, in 1991.
Today, that same, unyielding resolve is needed for the defence of Ukraine and her most courageous people. It is needed in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace. The commitment and expertise of the United States Armed Forces and its allies lie at the heart of NATO, pledged to each other’s defence, protecting our citizens and interests, and keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common threats.
Shared Values and the Future
As I look back across the centuries, Mr. Speaker, there emerge certain patterns; certain self-evident truths from which we can learn and draw mutual strength. Our Declaration of Rights of 1689 was not only the foundation of our constitutional Monarchy, but also provided the source of so many of the principles reiterated—often verbatim—in the American Bill of Rights of 1791.
The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone. But in this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rest on past achievements, or assume that foundational principles simply endure.
In Remembrance of 9/11
This year, of course, also marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. This atrocity was a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world. During my visit to New York, my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims and the families. We stood with you then. And we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten.
Closing
It is my hope—my prayer—that, in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of ploughshares into swords. It is why I believe, with all my heart, that the essence of our two Nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, and to deepen mutual understanding.
God bless the people of the United States, and may our unique partnership continue to flourish for the next 250 years and beyond.”
Centre for Nigeria Progress 