Transcription
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hello. Heat. Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you His Majesty Charles III. Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of Congress, uh, representatives of the American people across all states, territories, cities, and communities.
I would like, if I may, to take this opportunity to express my particular gratitude to you all for the great honor of addressing this joint uh meeting of Congress, and on behalf of the Queen and myself, to thank the American people, for welcome welcoming us to the United States to mark this semiquincential year uh of the Declaration of Independence. And for all of that time, And um for all of that time, our destinies as nations have been interlin. As Oscar Wild said, we have rarely everything in common uh with America nowadays, except of course language.
So ladies and gentlemen, we meet in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East, which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries. We meet too uh in the aftermath of the incident not far from this great building that sought to harm the leadership of your nation and to ferment wider fear and discord. Let me say with unshakable resolve, such acts of violence will never succeed. Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.
Standing here today, uh it is hard not to feel the weight of history on my shoulder because the modern relationship between our two nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years but over four centuries. It is extraordinary to think uh that I am the 19th in our line of sovereigns to study with daily attention the affairs of America. So I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress, this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms. Speaking in this um renowned chamber of debate and deliberation, I cannot help but think of my late mother, Queen Elizabeth, who in 1991 was also afforded this signal honor and similarly spoke under the watchful eye of the statue of freedom above us. Today I am here on this great occasion in the life uh of our nations to express the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States.
Now, as you may know, when I address my own parliament at Westminster, we still follow an age-old tradition and take a member of Parliament hostage, holding him or her at Buckingham Palace until I am safely returned. These days, we we look after our guests rather well, to the point that they often do not want to leave. I don't know, Mr. Speaker, if there are were any volunteers for that role here today.
As I look back um across the centuries, Mr. Speaker, the emerg certain patterns, certain self-evident truths from which we can learn and draw mutual strength with the spirit of 1776 in our minds. We can perhaps agree that we do not always agree, at least in the first instance. Indeed, the um the very principle on which your Congress was founded, no taxation without representation, was at once a fundamental disagreement between us and at the same time a shared democratic value uh which you inherited from us. Ours is a partnership born out of dispute but no less strong for it. So um perhaps in this example uh we can discern that our nations are in fact instinctively likeminded a product of the common democratic legal and social traditions in which our governance is rooted uh to this day. drawing on these values and traditions time and again our two countries have always found ways to come together and by jo Mr. Speaker when we have found that way to agree what great change is brought about not just for the benefit of our peoples but of all peoples. This, I believe, is the um special ingredient in our relationship. As President Trump himself observed during his state visit to Britain last autumn, the bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable.
Mr. Speaker, this is um by no means my first visit to Washington DC, the capital of this great republic. It is in fact my 20th visit to the United States and my first as king and head of the Commonwealth. This is a city which symbolizes a period in our shared history or what Charles Dickens might have called a tale of two Georgees. the first president, George Washington, and my five times great-grandfather, King George III. King George, as you know, never set foot in America. And um please rest assured, ladies and gentlemen, I am not here as part of some cunning rear guard action.
The founding fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. 200 250 years ago or as we say in the United Kingdom just the other day they declared independence by balancing contending forces and drawing strength in diversity. They united 13 desperate colonies to forge a nation on the revolutionary idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They carried with them and carried forward the great inheritance of the British Enlightenment as well as the ideals which had an even deeper history in English common law and Magna Carta. These roots run deep and they are still vital. Our declaration of rights of 1689 was not only the foundation of our constitutional monarchy but also provided the source of so many of the principles reiterated often verbatim in the American Bill of Rights of 1791. And those roots go even further back in history. The US Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that Magna Carta is cited in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances. This is the reason why the stands of stone by the rivers at Runny. where Magna Carta was signed in the year 1215. This stone records that an acre of that ancient and historic site was given to the United States of America by the people of the United Kingdom to symbolize our shared resolve in support of liberty and in memory of President John F. Kennedy.
Distinguished members of the 119th Congress, it is here in these very halls that this spirit of liberty and the promise of America's founders is present in every session and every vote cast. Not by the will of one, but by the deliberation of many, representing the living mosaic of the United States. in both of our countries. It is the very fact of our vibrant, diverse and free societies that gives us our collective strength, including to support victims of some of the ills that so tragically exist in both our societies today. And Mr. speaker for many here and for myself uh the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally that guides us not only personally but together as members of our community. Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and and greater understanding. It is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times. Through it, I am inspired by the profound respect that develops as people of different faiths grow in their understanding of each other. It is why, it is my hope, my prayer that in these turbulent times, working together and with our international partners, we can stem the beating of plowshares into swords. I I am mindful that we are still in the season of Easter, the season that most strengthens my hope. It is why I believe with all my heart that the essence of our two nations is a generosity of spirit and a duty to foster compassion, to promote peace, to deepen mutual understanding, and to value all people of all faiths and of none.
The alliance that our two nations have built over the centuries and for which we are profoundly grateful to the American people is truly unique. And that alliance is part of what Henry Kissinger described as Kennedy's soaring vision of an Atlantic partnership based on twin pillars, Europe and America. That partnership, I believe, Mr. Speaker, is more important today than it has ever been. The first reigning British sovereign to set foot in America was my grandfather, King George V 6th. He visited in 1939 with my beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The forces of fascism in Europe were on the march. And sometime before the United States had joined us in the defense of freedom, our shared values prevailed. Today, we find ourselves in a new era, but those values remain. It is an era that is in many ways more volatile and more dangerous than the world to which my late mother spoke in this chamber in 1991. The challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone. But in this unpredictable environment, our alliance cannot rest on past achievements or assume that foundational principles simply endure. As um my prime minister said last month, ours is an indispensable partnership. We must not disregard everything that has sustained us for the last 80 years. Instead, we must build on it. Renewal. Renewal today starts with security. The United Kingdom recognizes that the threats we face demand a transformation in British defense. That is why our country, in order to be fit for the future, has committed to the biggest sustained increase in defense spending since the Cold War. During part of which, over 50 years ago, I served with immense pride in the Royal Navy, following in the naval footsteps of my father, Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, my grandfather, King George V 6, my great uncle, Lord Mountbatton, and my great-grandfather, King George V.
This year of course also marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. This atrocity was uh a defining moment for America and your pain and shock were felt around the whole world. During my visit to New York, uh my wife and I will again pay our respects to the victims, the families, and the bravery shown in the face of terrible loss. We stood with you then and we stand with you now in solemn remembrance of a day that shall never be forgotten. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time and the United Nations Security Council was united in the face of terror, we answered the call together as our people have done so for more than a century, shoulderto-shoulder through two World Wars, the Cold War, Afghanistan, and moments that have defined our shared security. Today, Mr. Speaker, that same unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people. It is needed in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace. From the depths of the Atlantic to the disastrously melting ice caps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the United States armed forces and its allies lie at the heart of NATO. pledge to each other's defense, protecting our citizens and interests, keeping North Americans and Europeans safe from our common adversaries. Our defense, intelligence, and security ties are hardwired together through relationships measured not in years, but in decades. Today, thousands of US service personnel, defense officials, and their families are stationed in the United Kingdom as British personnel serve with equal pride across 30 American states. We are building F-35s together and we have agreed the most ambitious submarine program in history, Orcus. And we are doing it in partnership with Australia, a country of which I'm also immensely proud to serve as sovereign. We do not embark on these remarkable endeavors together out of sentiment. We do so because they build greater shared resilience for the future. So making our citizens safer for generations to come.
Our common ideals were not only crucial for liberty and equality, they are also the foundation of our shared prosperity. the rule of law, the certainty of stable and accessible rules, an independent judiciary, resolving disputes and delivering uh impartial justice. These features created the conditions for centuries of unmatched economic growth in our two countries. This is why our governments are concluding a new economic uh concluding new economic and technology agreements to write the next chapter of our joint uh prosperity and ensure that British and American ingenuity continues to lead the world. Our nations are combining talent and resources in the technologies of tomorrow. our new partnerships in nuclear fusion and quantum computing and in AI and drug discovery holding the promise of saving countless lives. More broadly, we celebrate the $430 billion in annual trade that continues to grow, the $1.7 trillion in mutual investment that fuels that innovation, and the millions of jobs on both sides of the Atlantic supported across both economies. These are strong foundations on which to continue to build for generations yet unborn. Our ties in education, research, and cultural exchange empower citizens and future leaders uh of both countries. The Marshall Scholarship, named after the great General George Marshall and the association of which I am so proud to be patron, are emblematic of the connection between our two countries. Since its founding, more than 2,300 scholarships have been awarded, opening doors for Americans from all walks of life to study at the United Kingdom's leading universities.
So as we look toward the next 250 years, we must also reflect on our shared responsibility to safeguard nature, our most precious and irreplaceable asset. Good. Millennia, millennia before our nations existed, before any border drawn, the mountains of Scotland and Appalachia were one, a single continuous range forged in the ancient collision of continents. The natural wonders of the United States of America are indeed a unique asset and generations of Americans have risen to this calling. indigenous, political, and civic leaders, people in rural communities and cities alike, have all helped to protect and nurture what President Theodore Roosevelt called the glorious heritage of this land's extraordinary natural splendor on which so much of its prosperity has always depended. Yet, even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of nature. We ignore at our peril the fact that these natural systems, in other words, nature's own economy, provide the foundation for our prosperity and our national security.
The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is at its heart a story of reconciliation, renewal, and remarkable partnership. From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history. I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth and across the world. and and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, America's words carry weight and meaning as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more. President Lincoln understood this so well with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg address that the world may little note what we say but will never forget what we do. And so to the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world. God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.
Congress there giving King Charles a round of applause after his joint address to Congress that lasted about 2030 minutes. He briefly mentioned in conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and he spoke at length about the United States and United Kingdom standing together in their commitment to upholding democracy despite their differences. He mentioned the upcoming 25th anniversary of the attacks on uh September 11th, 2001. We know that he's going to be visiting New York tomorrow. He and Queen Camila there you see them leaving shaking hands of the dignitaries in the room. uh from members of the military to the cabinet to a retired Supreme Court justice Steven Brier there right now um to members of Congress there. Um all right, let's go ahead and bring in CBS News political correspondent Caitlyn Huey Burns from Inside the Chamber because of camera rules. She joins us on the phone and Caitlyn, I'd like you to pick up on anything notable you noted there in the speech. To me, it was quite notable how much time he devoted to one of his one of the issues near and dear to his heart, and that is that of climate change. Um, essentially um calling uh the United States to action. Uh and there was a a standing ovation from members of the Democratic caucus, but we honed in on um EPA Administrator Lee Zeldon, who had a more subdued uh quiet clapping response.
Yeah, Lindsay, I was struck by that as well. And as you mentioned, that is something that is near and dear to the king's heart, a subject he has been talking about and trying to elevate for quite some time. We talked earlier about how this was reminiscent of a state of the union address in so far as it's a joint an address to a joint session of Congress and all of the pomp and circumstance with that comes with it. But it was notably different in so many ways. Ex obviously that this wasn't the president, but it was really a nonpartisan speech. There were moments where Democrats stood up first and Republicans followed. Other moments where Republicans stood up first and Democrats followed, but by and large it was something that uh pretty much everyone in this room had moments where they stood up together to applaud. And uh the the earliest moment of of that was earlier in the speech when he talked about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and gave a nod to uh the the revolutionaries who he called rebels with a cause and that elicited a lot of uh positive responses to everyone in this room uh especially as we prepare for uh the 250th anniversary coming up on July 4th of this year. Uh he also notably referenced the that executive power is subject to checks and balances and I noticed that Democrats quickly stood up for that. Uh which was uh interesting to see. And then when he talked about uh the freedom of religion, uh Republicans were the first to stand up and applaud that. But Lindsay, the the the item that I was looking for heading into this speech was any reference to uh the current state of affairs, especially the war with Iran, because as we know, the president has been very critical of the UK, particularly aiming his eye at Prime Minister Kier Starmer. He's been very critical of the NATO alliance, arguing in his view that they're not doing as much as the United States is doing. And we've heard uh King Charles in his diplomatic way. remember he is not here as a politician and he is not a politician uh but trying to stress the importance of it of the NATO alliance in in the way that he could and in a way that the palace believes is more effective and he talked about in the aftermath of 9/11 uh when when NATO members were called and they answered the call together and he said uh he he talked about that alliance he said our ties are hardwired together not measured not in years but in decades and the chamber is clearing out now um and it appears that the king has indeed left the chamber. >> Caitlyn Huey Burns, thank you so much for helping provide that color from inside. Joining us now is royal commentator Amanda Mata. What did you make of his reception in Congress?
>> I think the remarks absolutely did what they were supposed to do. Of course, the primary goal is to honor the 250th anniversary of American independence. And the king did note that even though our special relationship was born out of essentially a dispute, the American colonies breaking away from the United Kingdom, we are no less strong for it, our bond has grown out of that dispute. And he really framed every tension that might be discussed in this current political and geopolitical moment. in contrast to a strength that the UK and US special relationship has always enjoyed. So he did allude to you know our mutual defense interests. I especially did enjoy his nods to the environment. Of course, his pet cause is climate change and he is expected to visit a national park later this week which is something that the United States does very well. So I was great to it was great to see him acknowledging that. But ultimately calling for the two governments, the US and the UK, to continue building on that special relationship. And I think that is something that will go a long way in the conversations ahead. Of course, the king, it's been said many times, is not a political actor himself. He is not a policy maker, but he is in a way paving the way for Britain's Prime Minister Kier Starmer to have productive ongoing conversations with the Trump administration.
>> Amanda, thank you so much. Let's go now to CBS News congressional reporter Torian Small from Capitol Hill. What did you hear from your vantage point and what are you seeing now?
>> Yeah, I mean, Lindsay, I I missed uh part of your conversation with Caitlyn, but I would imagine just based on being in the room, she felt an energy that I think was kind of unexpected. From my vantage point, it feels like part of his speech felt like standup. He was joking quite often with get a couple of zingers in.
>> Exactly. Uh but as we talked about leading into the speech uh we expected that this would be pretty light and celebratory of the anniversary of America's independence and likely or like so we saw that happen in uh his acknowledgement of the 250 years it's been its own country. We also saw many moments that could be interpreted as political during one portion of his speech when he addressed the checks and balances of the US government. That drew a pretty big reaction from Democrats in the crowd that was uh obviously not received the exact same way by Republicans there. But he also mentioned some pretty uh hot topic or hot button issues like uh the continued support of Ukrainians and also uh the support for the alliance known as NATO talking about how it's a precious uh asset to both countries. This is something that has been previously uh condemned in many ways by President Trump. So it was pretty interesting to note uh that he made a point to bring those uh points up during his speech. But ultimately though he ended by saying again this purpose in this joint address is about renewed reconciliation for the two nations as the US faces now its 250 years of independence.
>> Torian Small, thank you so much and our thanks to Amanda Mata and Caitlyn Huey Burns as well. We are going to take a short break, but we are going to have the latest on this new indictment handed up against former FBI Director James Comey. The latest coming up, but for now, you're watching CBS News 247, the number one free streaming news service in America.