King Charles III and Queen Camilla were welcomed to the White House for a state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, in one of the most closely watched moments of their official visit to the United States and the formal evening combined diplomacy, tradition and symbolism, while also highlighting the longstanding ties between Britain and America.
As is tradition with major state dinners, special attention was given to the menu, which featured seasonal produce and carefully planned dishes.
Guests began the evening with Garden Vegetable Velouté, a smooth soup course served with hearts of palm, toasted shallots and micro mint. The opening dish set a light and refined tone for the meal.
The second course was Spring Herbed Ravioli, prepared with ricotta and morels, and finished with parmesan emulsion. The use of fresh herbs and mushrooms reflected spring-inspired flavours.
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For the main course, guests were served Dover Sole Meunière, a classic fish preparation often associated with fine dining. Potato pavé, spring ramps, snow peas and parsley oil accompanied it.
Dessert brought a visually striking finish to the evening. Diners were presented with a beehive-shaped White House Honey & Vanilla Bean Crémeux, served alongside flourless chocolate gteau, almond joconde and crème fraîche ice cream. The honey element was especially notable, given the King and Queen’s known interest in sustainability and beekeeping.
Wines selected to match each course
The White House also revealed a list of American wines selected to complement the meal. The choices were said to reflect the quality and variety of US winemaking.
Among the wines served were: Hopkins Riesling “Heritage” 2024, Penner-Ash Pinot Noir “Willamette Valley” 2022, Newton Chardonnay “Unfiltered” 2022. Each was paired to match the flavours of different courses throughout the evening.
High-profile guest list and royal remarks
The dinner brought together political leaders, business figures and guests from public life. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim Cook were among those attending, alongside senior administration officials and members of the Trump family.
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During his speech, King Charles thanked the hosts for their “generous hospitality” and praised the President’s “courage”. He also added humour to the evening, joking that “if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French!”
Historic significance of the visit
The White House dinner formed part of the King and Queen’s broader visit to Washington, New York and Virginia. It also marked a historic moment, as it was the first state visit to the United States by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II’s trip in 2007.
Beyond the formalities and menu, the evening served as a reminder of the enduring diplomatic relationship between the two countries, blending ceremony with modern political relevance.
