King Charles III’s state visit to the United States this week is awkward right down to its core. The visit celebrates the 250th anniversary of American independence, which Buckingham Palace called an opportunity to “recognize the shared history of our two nations.” But fundamentally, we’re talking about America defeating the British monarch’s great-great-great-great-great-grandfather.

While, obviously, we’ve patched things up considerably, Anglo-American relations haven’t been this troubled in decades. President Trump has repeatedly attacked British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not supporting his Iran war, prompting some U.K. lawmakers to call for the visit’s cancellation. The Iran war is damaging the U.K.’s economy, and it’s hugely unpopular among the British public.

As if that weren’t enough drama, there’s also Prince Andrew’s involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Prince Harry making a new life in California, and the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting on Saturday, which raised concerns about security for King Charles and Queen Camilla.

So, can King Charles actually do anything to repair the “special relationship”? It seems like a tall order. But on the other hand. Trump is easily wowed by royal pomp and Charles was born and bred for this kind of task. Here’s the latest news on this unusually high-stakes state visit.

The White House beehive got a Trumpy renovation.

If, like most Americans, you’re just learning that the White House has beehives, here’s a crash course via the AP:

The White House uses the clover honey its bees produce to prepare meals, as official gifts from the president and first lady, and in donations to food kitchens.The bees help pollinate a nearby produce garden that then-first lady Michelle Obama started in 2009 and a nearby flower cutting garden, along with vegetation on the National Mall.The beekeeping program began after a White House carpenter started beekeeping as a hobby on the complex.

The White House uses the clover honey its bees produce to prepare meals, as official gifts from the president and first lady, and in donations to food kitchens.

The bees help pollinate a nearby produce garden that then-first lady Michelle Obama started in 2009 and a nearby flower cutting garden, along with vegetation on the National Mall.

The beekeeping program began after a White House carpenter started beekeeping as a hobby on the complex.

It used to look like this:

I found the White House beehive! #whitehouse pic.twitter.com/a6AZXq0LRG— Whitehouse (@whphotos2013) July 29, 2014

I found the White House beehive! #whitehouse pic.twitter.com/a6AZXq0LRG

But last week Melania Trump unveiled two new beehives, which are housed in a replica of the White House:

.@FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP announced the expansion of the @WhiteHouse honey program with the addition of a newly installed and fully functioning beehive on the South Lawn. Hand-crafted by a local artisan in the image of the White House, the beautiful, new hive will add two new bee… pic.twitter.com/5lJpdzXcRY— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) April 24, 2026

.@FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP announced the expansion of the @WhiteHouse honey program with the addition of a newly installed and fully functioning beehive on the South Lawn. Hand-crafted by a local artisan in the image of the White House, the beautiful, new hive will add two new bee… pic.twitter.com/5lJpdzXcRY

Frankly, the Trumps showed impressive restraint........

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