Five takeaways from the King's historic address to Congress

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Five takeaways from the King's historic address to Congress 3 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Anthony Zurcher North America correspondent Watch key moments from the King's address to US Congress King Charles III's visit to the US was meant to be a celebration – of America's 250th anniversary, of enduring Anglo-American ties and of the "special relationship". But it has also been billed as a rescue mission. The current state of US-UK relations is strained – a reflection of British reluctance to fully back the joint US-Israeli war against Iran.

So the King's goal has been to ease those tensions with a royal charm offensive, most notably with his joint address to Congress on Tuesday afternoon. There is some reason for hope. President Donald Trump has a notably mercurial personality.

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Warm relations can turn chilly in a flash. But the reverse is also true, and former antagonists can be rehabilitated, welcomed once again into the president's good graces. A strain is not a rupture.

And towards the end of his speech, the King spoke of the "reconciliation and renewal" that he said characterised the centuries of interactions between the two nations. Whether such words in public and, in all likelihood, behind closed doors will be enough to reinforce the Anglo-American alliance remains to be seen. But, in brief remarks after an afternoon White House meeting, Trump appeared pleased.

"He's a fantastic person," the president said of the King. "They're incredible people and it's a real honour. " But there were also some lines in the King's speech, the first royal address to Congress since Queen Elizabeth II spoke at the Capitol in 1991, that may have buoyed Democrats – and raised eyebrows in the White House.

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King gets ovation for speech hailing importance of UK and US partnership Follow live updates on the King's state visit In pictures: King Charles delivers historic speech to US Congress 1) An acknowledgement of uncertainty Admitting you have a problem is the first step of recovery, as the saying goes. And so King Charles started his speech by diving right into the "times of great uncertainty" that confront both the US and the UK. He ticked through conflicts in the Middle East and Europe – sources of recent contention between the US and the UK - while also noting the threat to democracy presented by the kind of political violence that upended Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

From there, the King pivoted to talking about the fact that the US and the UK haven't always seen eye to eye. "With the spirit of 1776 in our minds," he said, "we can perhaps agree that we do not always agree". That was all a set-up, however, for his conclusion that the two nations, when in alignment, can do great things "not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples".

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.