Washington DC, April 27 -- Under a spotlight of historic symbolism and modern geopolitical friction, King Charles III and Queen Camilla touched down at Joint Base Andrews on Monday to begin a landmark four-day State Visit to the United States.

The visit, the first by a reigning British monarch in nearly two decades, comes at a pivotal moment as the US prepares for its 250th anniversary of independence and grapples with an escalating military conflict involving Iran, a conflict where London and Washington have found themselves increasingly at odds.

Charles, wearing a blue suit, and Camilla, dressed in pink, were greeted with a red-carpet ceremony that included walking through an honour cordon and hearing the US military band play the nat...