14 Iconic Photos of British Royals Visiting the U.S. (Including Kate and William Sitting Courtside!)
14 Iconic Photos of British Royals Visiting the U.S. (Including Kate and William Sitting Courtside!)
Christopher RudolphWed, April 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC
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Princess Diana and Phil Donahue at a fundraiser for the Field Museum of Natural History during a visit to the US; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at the 2011 BAFTA Brits To Watch Event on July 9, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.Credit: Ken Goff/Getty; Mark Large - Pool/Getty
King Charles and Queen Camilla are commemorating 250 years of American independence with a historic trip to the U.S.
This is Charles' first state visit since becoming monarch in 2022, but British royals have been touring the U.S. for decades.
"For my part, I have always admired the ingenuity of the American people, and the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception," Charles said at a September 2025 banquet honoring President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump. "Throughout my life, from my very first visit to the United States in 1970 and over 20 visits since that time, I have cherished the close ties between the British and American peoples."
As the King makes his way through Washington, D.C., New York City and more, here's a look back at some of the most iconic moments from past royal visits, including when Princess Diana danced with John Travolta and LeBron James met Prince William and Kate Middleton.
01 of 14
King George and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, make history with the Roosevelts
Eleanor Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt host King George VI and Queen ElizabethCredit: Photoquest/Getty
In June 1939, King George and his wife, Elizabeth, — the parents of the late Queen Elizabeth — made history as the first reigning British monarchs to visit the U.S.
They were invited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he learned that the royal couple were planning a trip to Canada. He wrote them, extending an invite for some days of "rest and relaxation" at his Hyde Park estate in New York.
During their visit to Hyde Park, they had a picnic where hot dogs were served, which George ate "with gusto," historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. said, per The New York Times. Elizabeth ate hers with a fork and knife.
02 of 14
Queen Elizabeth attends her first American football game
Queen Elizabeth attends her first American football gameCredit: INTERNATIONAL NEWS PHOTOS (INP)/AFP via Getty
On Oct. 19, 1957, Elizabeth attended her first and only American football game at the University of Maryland.
The event — which saw the University of Maryland take on the University of North Carolina – was dubbed the "Queen's Game," and according to the University of Maryland archives, the Queen and Prince Philip were given an autographed football, along with a replica of the coin from the toss, by each of the team captains.
University of Maryland president Wilson Elkins said Elizabeth was "most interested in the difference between the English Rugby and the American game," according to the school's libraries.
03 of 14
Prince Charles and Princess Anne visit the Nixon White House
President and Mrs. Nixon welcome Prince Charles and Princess AnneCredit: Bettmann Archive/Getty
In 1970, then-Prince Charles made his first visit to the U.S., when President Richard Nixon invited him and his sister, Princess Anne, for an official visit to the White House.
Nixon did it not only to keep relations strong between the U.K. and U.S., but he also hoped for a romantic connection between Charles and his eldest daughter, Tricia.
Decades later, King Charles made a joke about the visit during a state banquet speech in September 2025, saying, "In fact, had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family!"
04 of 14
Prince Charles and Barbra Streisand form a friendship
Prince Charles and Barbra StreisandCredit: Mark Sennet/Getty
Charles and Barbra Streisand had a friendship that began in 1974, when they were both in San Diego.
The then-prince was serving in the Royal Navy at the time and asked to meet the singer, who was recording the soundtrack for Funny Lady.
"The prince was utterly charming when he came to the studio, but frankly, it’s hard to have a real conversation when you’re surrounded by fifty photographers snapping pictures,” Streisand wrote in her 2023 My Name Is Barbra memoir, per Entertainment Weekly. "I was drinking tea and offered him a sip ... and the future king of England actually drank from my cup, which was apparently unprecedented."
The two struck up a friendship, something that has lasted for decades since their initial meeting.
05 of 14
Queen Elizabeth celebrates the American bicentennial with President Ford
Queen Elizabeth II and President Gerald FordCredit: Photo12/Universal Images Group via Getty
Queen Elizabeth visited the U.S. again in 1976, this time in honor of the American bicentennial.
On July 7, 1976, President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford hosted a state dinner for the Queen and Prince Philip, which included entertainment by Bob Hope and Telly Savalas, as requested by the Queen.
06 of 14
Princess Diana and John Travolta share a dance
John Travolta dances with Princess DianaCredit: Circa Images/GHI/Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty
Diana shared a dance with Travolta when she visited the White House in 1985.
At the event, first lady Nancy Reagan told Travolta that it was Diana's fantasy to dance with the Saturday Night Fever star, he later recalled. After he asked her to dance, Travolta said, "The whole room cleared."
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"We danced for what felt like 15 minutes," he said in the 2021 PBS special In Their Own Words: Diana, Princess of Wales.
"It was a storybook moment," Travolta continued. "We bowed when it was over, and, you know, she was off, and I was off, and my carriage turned into a pumpkin."
07 of 14
Prince Charles takes on Texas
Prince Charles in AustinCredit: AP Photo/John Keating
In 1986, Charles visited the Lone Star State in honor of the Republic of Texas' 150th anniversary.
During his four-day trip, Charles met with Texas celebrities like Lady Bird Johnson and Willie Nelson, according to CBS Austin.
08 of 14
Queen Elizabeth addresses Congress
Queen Elizabeth II addresses CongressCredit: Dennis Brack/Pool via CNP/Getty
During his April 2026 trip to the U.S., King Charles delivered an address to Congress, being the second British monarch to do so.
The first was his mother, Queen Elizabeth, during a state visit in 1991.
09 of 14
Princess Diana dances with Phil Donahue
Princess Diana dances with Phil DonahueCredit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
In June 1996, Diana visited Chicago for three days to raise money for cancer research.
Diana was the guest of honor at a fundraising gala held at the Field Museum of Natural History, where she danced with talk show host Phil Donahue.
"I love Chicago. It’s been wonderful," Diana said when she boarded her flight home, according to Northwestern University.
10 of 14
Queen Elizabeth's last state visit to U.S.
Queen Elizabeth II and President George W. BushCredit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
Before King Charles' historic state visit, the last time a British monarch set foot in the White House was in 2007, when President George W. Bush hosted Queen Elizabeth.
Her six-day visit included time spent in Virginia and the Kentucky Derby, before arriving in Washington, D.C., according to TIME. The Queen's 2007 trip would also be her final state visit to the U.S. before her death in 2022.
11 of 14
Prince William and Kate walk the red carpet
William and Kate at BAFTA Brits to WatchCredit: Mark Large - Pool/Getty
Prince William and Kate went Hollywood while on a North American tour in July 2011. The royal couple attended the BAFTAs' “Brits to Watch” event, highlighting rising stars from the U.K.
The glamorous outing came just a few months after their royal wedding in April 2011.
12 of 14
Prince William and Kate meet LeBron James
William and Kate meet LeBron JamesCredit: Samir Hussein/Pool/WireImage
The royal couple came back to the States in 2014, this time on the East Coast, where they attended a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Brooklyn, N.Y.
At the game, Prince William and Kate met big stars like Beyoncé, Jay-Z and LeBron James, who gifted the couple a jersey for their young son, Prince George.
13 of 14
Prince Harry and Michelle Obama at the Invictus Games
Michelle Obama and Prince HarryCredit: Chris Jackson/Getty
Prince Harry and Michelle Obama were on hand to kick off the second annual Invictus Games at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
14 of 14
William and Kate sit courtside in Boston
William and Kate attend Boston Celtics gameCredit: Paul Edwards - Pool/Getty
The royal couple made a surprise appearance at the TD Garden in Boston to watch the Celtics play the Miami Heat in 2022.
William and Kate were in Boston for the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony.
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