King Charles and Queen Camilla rounded off a packed first day of their historic US state visit by hosting a lavish garden party for 650 guests in Washington DC.

The event, held at the British Embassy, brought together a cross-section of British and American figures – from politicians and officials to charity leaders and sporting stars – as the monarch seeks to reinforce strained transatlantic ties.

Their Majesties hosted the garden party just hours after touching down at Joint Base Andrews, where they were greeted with gifts and a military band as they stepped off the plane and walked down a red carpet. 

After standing for the UK and US national anthems, Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, were then driven in a motorcade to the White House, where US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania greeted them.

The royals had tea in the Green Room and were taken to the garden to see a newly-expanded beehive, rebuilt in the shape of a miniature White House, before attending the garden party at the UK's embassy.

In traditional garden party fare, guests were treated to 3,000 handmade sandwiches including Scottish smoked salmon, roast beef and horseradish sandwiches using imported British cuts brought in under new tariff-free treaties, egg mayonnaise, and lightly pickled cucumber, followed by scones. 

Guests included Olympic diver and celebrity knitter Tom Daley as well as football ace Esme Morgan, a Lionesses World Cup winning star who plays for Washington Spirit.

Among the political figures there were Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury, Senator Ted Cruz, former speaker Nancy Pelosi and current speaker of the house Mike Johnson. 

Prince William's old school friend, Guy Pelly, who now lives in the US, was also in attendance.

Daley, 31, who now lives in LA with his husband and two children, jetted in for the day to attend the garden party.

He said: 'Knitting is my outlet for all my creativity, my mindfulness and my meditation and the King has tried knitting many a time.

'He said he tried knitting when he was eight and he wasn't very good but he said he might pick it back up – he knows it's very good for mental health.

'But I want to try and get it back into the school curriculum and maybe he can help me do that.'

But before joining the garden, the King and Queen saw a time capsule created to mark America's 250th anniversary celebrations this year.

They placed a commemorative coin made specially for the occasion by the Royal Mint into the capsule, a proclamation from the King and essays written by local Washington school children, inside.

It will be placed under the Washington Monument on the capital city's National Mall later this year to be opened when US marks 500 years of independence.

The capsule will be twinned with another, which was placed under the statue of George Washington in Trafalgar Square, London, last June.

Before the garden party began Camilla confessed she was 'quite jet lagged'.

Earlier in the day, Charles and Camilla had been formally welcomed by Trump and the First Lady at the White House, where the two couples exchanged warm greetings before retreating inside for private talks over tea.

The meeting – deliberately kept away from cameras – marked the opening of the King's first US state visit of his reign, a four-day tour seen as pivotal for the so-called 'special relationship'.

The King has been tasked with using the monarchy's soft power to help steady relations, which have become increasingly fractious in recent months.

Arriving in Washington aboard the British Government GBNI aeroplane, Charles and Camilla were greeted with full ceremonial honours at Joint Base Andrews, where a military guard and band lined a red carpet beneath blazing sunshine.

Camilla made a pointed diplomatic gesture by wearing a historic brooch featuring the Union flag crossed with the American Stars and Stripes – a piece originally gifted to Elizabeth II during her 1957 visit to the US.

After travelling into the capital, the royal couple were welcomed on the South Portico of the White House, where there were kisses exchanged between Camilla and Melania, while Charles shook hands with Trump before greeting the First Lady.

The two couples then sat down privately in the Green Room for tea, with discussions carefully shielded from public view – a sign of the sensitivity surrounding the visit.

The high-stakes trip comes against the backdrop of recent tensions, with Trump having criticised the UK government's foreign policy stance and openly clashed with Sir Keir Starmer.

Despite this, the President has described Charles as 'my friend' and a 'brave' man, signalling a willingness to use the visit to strengthen ties.

Queen Camilla also used the event as an opportunity to meet with representatives from four Washington DC child exploitation and domestic violence charities.

Buckingham Palace has said King Charles and Camilla are not able to meet victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein during their four-day visit due to ongoing legal cases including the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Speaking to the representatives for domestic violence and child exploitation charities Camilla said: 'Nice to meet you, wish we had longer to talk.'

Afterwards Sandra Jackson, CEO of charity House of Ruth women's shelter, praised Camilla as 'someone able to give notoriety to this cause.'

She added: 'She thanked us for our work and hoped progress is being made and build on progress for the future.

'It was nice to be able to thank her for what she has done and bringing attention to this cause.'

Asked if the King and Queen should have met victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, she said: 'I respect their decision.'

Michelle DeLaune CEO of National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children praised the Queen as 'wonderful' for 'raising awareness' and 'get dialogue going'.

Charities My Sister's Place, DC Safe and DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence were also at the garden party held at the UK Ambassador's residence.

The carefully choreographed day unfolded under intense security following a assassination attempt on Trump at a Washington media dinner just days earlier.

Charles is understood to have privately expressed his 'sympathies with all those affected' and gratitude to security services, while officials confirmed 'all appropriate security measures are in place'.

The visit - which will also include a White House state banquet, a trip to New York and a historic address to Congress - is being closely watched on both sides of the Atlantic.

In his Congress speech on Tuesday, the King is expected to stress that while the UK and US have faced disagreements over the past 250 years, 'time and again, our two countries have always found ways to come together'.

He will also offer 'the highest regard and friendship of the British people to the people of the United States', underlining the enduring alliance at a moment of global uncertainty.

There will also be another traditional military arrival ceremony where the couples will inspect the military and conduct a review of the corps.

Later in the day the King is also expected to participate in a bilateral meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office.