India, April 29 -- King Charles III, on a state visit to the United States, lightened the mood at a White House dinner on Tuesday by joking that without Britain, Americans might be speaking French.

During the event, he appeared to respond playfully to remarks previously made by President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in January, when Trump said that without American intervention in World War II, Europe could be "speaking German and a little Japanese."

Drawing laughter from the audience, King Charles said: "You recently commented, Mr President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that if it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking French."

The exchange came during a state...