A King’s Speech 

                to Congress

King Charles III addressed a joint session of Congress April 28. His apprenticeship during Queen Elizabeth’s long reign made him a skilled statesman able to make his points with tact, humor, and an understanding of his listeners’ concerns and priorities. His eloquent speech was a master class in how to conduct international relations.

The King’s ostensible purpose was to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, but he also had an agenda that would help the U.S., the U.K., and, indeed, the world. He began with a bit of lighthearted humor, mentioned the value of diversity, then explored our shared historical roots:

“The Founding Fathers were bold and imaginative rebels with a cause. Two hundred and fifty 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 disparate 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 [of 1215].

“These roots run deep, and they are still vital….The U.S. 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 was one of several times when the King received hearty, and bipartisan, applause.) 

“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.”

Charles spoke of the value of alliances, especially NATO, most of whose nations fought with us for many years after 9/11: “In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, when NATO invoked Article Five 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 for more than a century, shoulder to 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 icecaps of the Arctic, the commitment and expertise of the United States Armed Forces and its allies lie at the heart of NATO.” 

The King spoke of other important ties then addressed the next 250 years: “Our ties in education, research, and cultural exchange empower citizens and future leaders of both countries. The Marshall Scholarship, named after the great General George Marshall, [is] 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…. 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…. 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.” Well said.