AFP, Washington

Britain’s King Charles III began a state visit to the United States yesterday, as transatlantic tensions simmer over the Iran war, and despite a shooting two days earlier at a dinner attended by his host, President Donald Trump.

The four‑day trip by Charles and Queen Camilla is intended to honour historic ties between the two countries as the US marks its 250th anniversary.

Charles will become the first British monarch to address Congress since the late queen Elizabeth II, in 1991, while the royal couple will have tea with Trump and Melania, and attend a state dinner.

The royals will visit New York on Wednesday, touring the 9/11 memorial, before departing Thursday for Bermuda for their first visit to a British overseas territory as monarch.

Charles’s visit comes at the request of the UK government and President Donald Trump, according to the palace.

“He’s a friend of mine for a long time, so he’s coming, and we’re going to have a great time, and he represents his nation like nobody else can do it,” Trump told Fox News on Sunday.