Updated April 25, 2026, 2:46 p.m. ET
The White House has unveiled new details about next week’s state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla, highlighting a pair of unexpected events during the four-day trip commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to welcome the royal couple to the White House from April 27 to April 30 as part of the first official state visit of Trump’s second term.
The visit had already been expected to include a White House reception, a ceremonial military welcome, King Charles’ address to Congress and a formal state dinner. However, a new White House release provided additional details, including a tour of the newly expanded White House beehive and a student-focused artificial intelligence event led by Melania Trump and Queen Camilla.
Royal stop at newly expanded White House beehive
After arriving Monday, the king and queen are expected to join Trump and the first lady for tea in the White House Green Room before touring the newly unveiled and expanded White House beehive on the South Lawn near the Kitchen Garden.
The beehive was announced by the White House this week as part of the White House honey project launched by Melania Trump. It is shaped like a miniature version of the presidential residence and was designed by Executive Residence staff before being handcrafted by a Virginia artisan.
Four bee colonies now help produce the White House’s signature honey, which officials say is used by residence chefs to sweeten teas, make salad dressings and create desserts. Honey is also sometimes given as gifts from the president and first lady.
The additional colonies are expected to boost annual honey production by about 30 pounds while helping pollinate the White House Kitchen Garden, Flower Cutting Garden and vegetation on the National Mall.
The stop may carry added symbolism for King Charles, who has long championed environmental and sustainability causes.
AI and virtual reality event for students
On Tuesday, while President Donald Trump and King Charles III hold a bilateral meeting, Melania Trump and Queen Camilla are scheduled to lead a separate educational event with students at the White House Tennis Pavilion.
According to the White House, students will use virtual reality headsets to learn about the United Kingdom. Participants will also use AI-enabled glasses to explore American history and the “special relationship” between the two nations by examining artifacts from the White House Collection and the National Archives and Records Administration.
The event ties into Melania Trump’s “Fostering the Future Together” initiative, one of the signature causes she has promoted since returning as first lady. The program has focused on children, education and technology, with artificial intelligence emerging as a central theme.
Last month, Trump hosted a White House summit for the initiative that featured Figure AI’s humanoid robot Figure 3, which appeared alongside the first lady as she spoke about AI’s potential role in education. The new event with Queen Camilla suggests that technology-forward programming will remain part of the administration’s public-facing agenda during major diplomatic visits.
Broader royal tour
The royal trip is expected to continue beyond Washington with stops in New York City and Virginia.
Previously announced plans include meetings with first responders and families affected by the Sept. 11 attacks in New York, along with community events and cultural performances in Virginia before the couple departs for Bermuda.
Contributors: USA TODAY’s Michelle Del Rey, Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Kinsey Crowley
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
