The Queen admitted to feeling an understandable travel hassle
Credit: Ian Volger – Pool/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Queen Camilla had a relatable travel confession after arriving in the U.S. for a four-day state visit
- The royal couple attended a garden party at the British ambassador’s residence with 600 guests
- King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Queen Camilla made a relatable revelation about long-haul travel as her state visit to America with King Charles begins.
The King, 77, and Queen, 78, touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to kick off their four-day state visit to the United States on April 27, and the Queen confessed to feeling the effects of the journey on the first day of their stay.
Following a White House welcome with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in Washington, D.C., the royal couple headed to a garden party at the British Ambassador's residence and checked out a time capsule commemorating America's 250th anniversary celebrations this year.
While in the ambassador's library for the presentation, the Queen was asked about the flight stateside and admitted to feeling "slightly jet lagged," nodding to the five-hour time difference between the U.K. and the East Coast of the U.S.
Credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson-Pool/Getty
King Charles and Queen Camilla will spend the next few days touring Washington, D.C., New York and Virginia in a diplomatic trip commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were the guests of honor at the garden party hosted at the home of British ambassador to the U.S Sir Christian Turner, whom Trump appointed in February.
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty
The bash convened around 600 people from politics, science and sustainability, plus representatives from community groups, the creative industries and charities tackling domestic abuse, one of Queen Camilla's key causes.
"She said to me that she feels there have been great strides made in recent years to bring awareness to the issue. She’s been a champion of this issue for years, and it’s lovely to see her here — we’re just thrilled she made time to speak to us," Gretchen Shaw of the National Domestic Violence Hotline exclusively tells PEOPLE about meeting the Queen.
Credit: Ian Volger – Pool/Getty
The King's wife also spent time talking with British Olympic diver Tom Daley about his children, Robbie, 7, and Phoenix, 3.
"She asked what I was up to now and told her about my knitting and she asked about my kids. She couldn’t believe how old they were now," Daley tells PEOPLE about their interaction.
The Queen also obliged a group of West Point cadets who cheekily asked her to join them for a photo at the soiree.
Credit: Samir HUSSEIN / POOL / AFP via Getty
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King Charles and Queen Camilla's trip to America is the first U.S. visit of his royal reign and is proceeding as planned after a shooting happened at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 25.
The Trumps were guests at the press event, where a Secret Service member was injured in the gunfire.
PEOPLE understands that the King and Queen reached out to the American president and first lady privately in the wake of the incident, and Trump, 79, later confirmed that he and the King spoke about the visit being a go.
"They called, and they are so looking forward to being here. We spoke this morning," Trump told CBS News on Sunday.
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