King Charles delighted guests at the state dinner at the White House on Tuesday evening, cracking jokes about speaking French, football and the Boston Tea Party.
Charles and Camilla were the guests of honour at the dinner, which was held to "honour the Special Relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom."
Guests enjoyed a four-course menu and musical entertainment, along with speeches from both the King and the US president.
And Charles, 77, stole the show, getting a series of big laughs with his light-hearted speech.
Political strategist Josh Holmes posted on X: “Today is the day I realized King Charles was hilarious”, while NBC News’ senior White House correspondent Garrett Haake posted: “The King’s got jokes!”
Charles first joked about Trump’s new White House East Wing ballroom project, comparing it to the British burning of the White House in 1814.
He quipped: “On this occasion, I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year. And I'm sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814.”
British forces burned the White House and several other government buildings in August 1814, during the War of 1812.
Charles also drew laughs as he gifted Trump a bell from the HMS Trump, a submarine launched from a UK shipyard in 1944 during World War II.
“May it stand as a testimony to our nation's shared history and shining future - and should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring,” he said.
King Charles jokes: "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” pic.twitter.com/b4ll01Ro6t
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 29, 2026
Referencing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Charles told the dinner guests: “We have had our moments of difficulty even in more recent history. When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘special’ back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.”
“Nearly 70 years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today”, he concluded, to laughs from the audience.
Charles also joked that the US should thank the UK that they aren’t speaking French - a reference to the 1764 Treaty of Paris that gave American colonies to the UK.
He said: “Indeed, 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 King quickly added that "of course, we both love our French cousins greatly".
King Charles: I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing. I'm sorry to say that we British of course made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814. pic.twitter.com/voqHeq0YlJ
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2026
King Charles: Thank you, Mr. President and Mrs. Trump for your splendid dinner this evening, which, may I say, is a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party. pic.twitter.com/8NbXHFc9Lu
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 29, 2026
Regarding the recent trip to the moon by the Nasa-led Artemis II, Charles quipped: “Now, I know you have big plans for the Moon, Mr President, but I’ve actually checked the papers and I rather suspect it is already part of the Commonwealth, I’m afraid.”
The King then discussed the upcoming World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the US, Mexico and Canada - reminding Trump he was also head of state of a host nation, as King of Canada.
He said: “In just a few weeks, the United States and Canada will be among those to welcome the world as hosts of the FIFA World Cup. So in one sense, Mr President, as Heads of State, we are joint hosts.
“We call this game ‘Football’, Mr. President. And I can only say as the Head of State of five competing countries, I will be watching the matches closely and with great enthusiasm. After all, we always like favourable odds.”
Finally, Charles joked about the Boston Tea Party, calling the dinner a significant improvement.
During the War of Independence in 1773, revolutionaries boarded British ships in Boston harbour dumping 342 chests of tea into the water in a protest against colonial tax.
The King said: “Thank you, Mr. President and Mrs. Trump, for your splendid dinner this evening, which, may I say, is a very considerable improvement on the Boston Tea Party.
“Whether your cup contains tea, wine, scotch whiskey, bourbon or even Cola, let us raise our glasses and voices as we toast the past, the present and the future of our two proud and allied nations.
To the United States and the United Kingdom. God bless both our countries.”
