King Charles had a little help from the world of Shakespeare when he set out to charm Washington.
The monarch, who has long held a passion for the works of William Shakespeare, reportedly sought advice from acclaimed actor Sir Mark Rylance as he prepared the speeches that would become some of the most talked-about moments of his US state visit.
Rylance, the celebrated Wolf Hall actor and former artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, was among a wider group of British cultural figures and external advisers consulted by the King and his team.
Officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the British Embassy in Washington were also involved in shaping the addresses, according to The Telegraph.
During the visit, Charles delivered two major speeches. One at the White House during a state dinner and another before a joint session of Congress.
At the White House, the King presented Donald Trump with a Royal Navy bell and turned his attention to Shakespeare.
One of his biggest laughs came when he described the shared history of the two nations as something Charles Dickens might have called “A Tale of Two Georges.”
The New York Times later praised his performance, saying the King appeared to work the chamber almost like a stand-up comedian, using his humour with confidence.
Even Trump offered an unusual verdict on the performance, calling the speech “great” before admitting he was “very jealous.”
2026-08-30 19:57:00
