US President Donald Trump has claimed that the King agrees with him that Iran should never be allowed nuclear weapons.
Speaking at the White House state dinner on Tuesday evening, Trump said he had “militarily defeated that particular opponent”.
“We’re doing a little Middle East work right now… and we’re doing very well.
“We have militarily defeated that particular opponent, and we’re never going to let that opponent ever, Charles agrees with me even more than I do, we’re never going to let that opponent have a nuclear weapon.
“They know that, and they’ve known it right now, very powerfully.”
The remarks risk drawing the monarch into the political row over the crisis in the Middle East.
In response to Trump’s comment, a spokesperson from the Palace said: “The King is naturally mindful of his Government’s long-standing and well-known position on the prevention of nuclear proliferation.”
The King’s most diplomatically sensitive state visit to date comes amid criticism from Trump to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the war in Iran.
The president has accused the UK of having a “terrible” approach to the conflict.
Meanwhile, the King called on Trump to “renew” the bonds of friendship between America and the UK at this “critical time”.
Charles, in a shorter, less formal and more personal speech than his historic address to Congress, told the American leader it was “an important opportunity” and that the two nations have stood together in “the best of times and worst of times”.
The King said the “indispensable alliance” was a “cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens”.
In his own toast, Trump congratulated the King on his fantastic speech to Congress, saying: “He got the Democrats to stand. I’ve never been able to do that.”
Trump said, despite America’s independence in 1776, the relationship between the UK and the US was “unbreakable in any conflict” and had grown into “a friendship unlike any other on earth, a very, very special and incredible friendship”.
The monarch, whose state visit comes amid both the Iran war and conflict in Ukraine, made reference to “those who wish us harm across the world”, adding in his toast on Tuesday evening: “Those challenges encourage us to reaffirm, tonight, the basis on which our partnership has been built”.
And in a personal gift to Mr Trump, the King presented the president with the original bell from the Royal Navy Second World War submarine HMS Trump, quipping: “If you should ever need to get hold of us… well just give us a ring.”
The King reflected on the challenging relationship between the UK and the US in the past, saying: “Yes, we have had our moments of difficulty even in more recent history.
“When my mother visited in 1957, not the least of her tasks was to help put the ‘special’ back into our relationship after a crisis in the Middle East.
“Nearly 70 years on, it is hard to imagine anything like that happening today…”
Charles added: “I am so glad we have an important opportunity, at this critical time, to renew those bonds of history and friendship between our nations and our peoples.”
He told the guests: “Tonight, we are here to renew an indispensable alliance which has long been a cornerstone of prosperity and security for both British and American citizens.
“Our people have fought and fallen together in defence of the values we cherish.
“Across the ocean, and from coast to coast, we have traded, innovated, and created together. We have stood together through the best and worst of times.”