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Saying he felt the "weight of history" on his shoulders, King Charles became the first British monarch in 35 years to address Congress on Tuesday.

"America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since independence. The actions of this great nation matter even more. President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do," the king told a packed House chamber on the second day of his state visit to the U.S. "And so, to the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world."

This week's visit from the king and Queen Camilla comes as the relationship between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been strained over the war in Iran and other issues. In his nearly 30-minute speech, Charles highlighted the centuries-long relationship between the U.S. and U.K.

"The modern relationship between our two nations and our own peoples spans not merely 250 years, but over four centuries. It is extraordinary to think that I am the nineteenth in our line of sovereigns to study, with daily attention, the affairs of America," he said. "So I come here today with the highest respect for the United States Congress, this citadel of democracy created to represent the voice of all American people to advance sacred rights and freedoms."

The king noted that the speech came "in times of great uncertainty, in times of conflict from Europe to the Middle East which pose immense challenges for the international community and whose impact is felt in communities the length and breadth of our own countries."

Charles said that the two nations "do not always agree" but his remarks largely focused on their partnership, referring to it as "one of the most consequential alliances in human history."