Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive on state visit to the US

{"text":[[{"start":9,"text":"King Charles and Queen Camilla were greeted at the White House by Donald Trump on Monday as they began a high-stakes trip to the US."}],[{"start":16.65,"text":"The four-day state visit comes as the transatlantic relationship has been strained by the Iran war. Trump has repeatedly accused British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and allies in Europe of not doing enough to assist in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran."}],[{"start":33,"text":"Trump and the first lady Melania greeted the King and Queen at the South Portico of the White House on Monday afternoon, briefly posing for photographs before welcoming the royal couple inside for tea."}],[{"start":44.5,"text":"The King and Queen are expected to receive a tour of the recently expanded White House beehive on the South Lawn before attending a garden party at the British Embassy."}],[{"start":55.35,"text":"A formal welcome of the royal couple, featuring a traditional military arrival ceremony and 21-gun cannon salute, is expected to take place at the White House on Tuesday ahead of a joint address to Congress by the King. "}],[{"start":69.1,"text":"The speech will be the second time in history that a British monarch has delivered remarks to Congress. Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, addressed a joint meeting of the US legislature in 1991, following the Gulf war."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":82.5,"text":"The monarch’s visit will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence, but it will be closely watched to see if the King is able to heal the growing rift between Trump and Starmer. "}],[{"start":95.1,"text":"In a telephone interview with the BBC last week, Trump said he thought the visit could “absolutely” help mend the transatlantic relationship, describing the King as a “fantastic man”. "}],[{"start":106.89999999999999,"text":"Trump, whose mother was from Scotland, is known to have a longstanding affinity for the British royal family and visited the UK on a state visit last September, where he was received by the King and Queen."}],[{"start":118.69999999999999,"text":"During their four-day state visit, the King and Queen are expected to travel to New York City, where they will visit a memorial to the September 11 terror attacks and to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. "}],[{"start":131.1,"text":"During his second term, Trump has clashed with the British government over trade, immigration and tech policy."}],[{"start":137.79999999999998,"text":"Last week, Trump threatened to impose a “big tariff” on the UK if it did not drop its digital services tax, which imposes a 2 per cent levy on the revenue of big tech companies. "}],[{"start":148.7,"text":"In the early days of the US-Israeli war against Iran, Trump said Starmer was “not Winston Churchill” and dismissed British warships as “toys”. "}],[{"start":158.54999999999998,"text":"The president has been visibly frustrated by the prime minister’s decision not to allow the US to use British bases for offensive operations against Iran. The UK has permitted Royal Air Force bases to be used to launch defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites."}],[{"start":175.64999999999998,"text":"The Iran war has caused a surge in global energy prices as Tehran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil transit. While a ceasefire has led to a pause in the hostilities, the US’s efforts to broker a lasting peace agreement have foundered. "}],[{"start":192.49999999999997,"text":"The UK and France have jointly convened a coalition of more than 30 countries to reopen the strait in the event of a sustainable ceasefire agreement. "}],[{"start":208.64999999999995,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1777334132_7824.mp3"}