King Charles meets British sports legend on US state visit

King Charles concluded the first day of his much-awaited US State Visit in an unusual way, engaging in a chat about knitting with ex-Olympic diver Tom Daley during a garden party in Washington.

The 31-year-old former athlete, now living in Los Angeles with his husband and their two kids, traveled specifically for the gathering.

Mr. Daley mentioned that knitting serves as his creative outlet and meditation practice, noting that the monarch has also given it a try several times.

"He said he tried knitting at the age of eight and wasn't very skilled, but he might try again since he knows it's beneficial for mental health," Daley stated.

The previous Olympian expressed a desire for King Charles to back his initiative to bring knitting back to school programs.

The garden gathering featured an esteemed guest list from the worlds of politics and sports, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Senator Ted Cruz, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and current Speaker Mike Johnson.

Guy Pelly, a longtime friend of Prince William from their school years, was also present.

Esme Morgan, the European title-winning footballer who plays for Washington Spirit, was among the attendees too.

Queen Camilla candidly mentioned being "quite jet lagged" when she greeted the organisers of a time capsule celebrating America's 250th anniversary of independence this year.

The royal pair checked out some items from the capsule before the garden event began.

Camilla also engaged in conversations with key figures from domestic abuse organisations during the event.

The King is scheduled to speak to both houses of Congress on Tuesday, where he will discuss the Britain-America relationship as one of history's most crucial alliances since their independence.

His talk will highlight how the two nations often find common ground despite their differences.

The speech is likely to be seen as commenting on the current tensions between President Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, who are at odds over the U.S. leader’s military actions against Iran.

King Charles will emphasise the importance of maintaining shared principles to safeguard freedom and fairness.

The monarch will also underscore the significance of the rule of law, which is fundamental to the democratic values and mutual economic prosperity of both countries.