Britain's King Charles III has met US President Donald Trump at the White House, kicking off a high-stakes state visit shadowed by transatlantic tensions and a fresh alleged attempt to assassinate the US president.
In warm Washington sunshine, Charles and Trump exchanged handshakes and apparently friendly remarks outside the White House South Portico.
The Trumps are hosting the royal couple for tea and will later give them a tour of the White House.
The four-day visit had been meant to celebrate the historic ties between the two close allies for the 250th anniversary of US independence from the British monarch's ancestor George III.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday the visit would "honor the long-standing and special relationship."
The royal trip is also going ahead despite a shooting at the glitzy White House Correspondents' Dinner attended by Trump on Saturday. A suspect accused of trying to assassinate the president was arraigned in court on Monday.
As a result, an already meticulously choreographed visit is now being held under even tighter security than before.
Repair of transatlantic relations
The royals arrived earlier at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, where they were greeted on the red carpet by children carrying bouquets.
On Tuesday, the Trumps will meet Charles and Camilla in the Oval Office and hold a state dinner. Charles will also become the first British monarch to address Congress since his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991.
The royals will visit New York on Wednesday, touring the 9/11 memorial, before departing on Thursday.
But as the US war with Iran drives a rare wedge between London and Washington, the visit has generated considerable controversy.
Trump has said King Charles's visit could help repair transatlantic relations.
"He represents his nation like nobody else can do it," Trump told Fox News on Sunday.
The US visit also represents a personal test for Charles, who has been battling cancer in recent years.
