The Queen admitted to feeling an understandable travel hassle

Queen Camilla attends a Garden Party on day one of her State visit to the United States of America with King Charles III on April 27, 2026 at the White House in Washington, DC.

Queen Camilla attends a garden party in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2026.Credit : Ian Volger – Pool/Getty

 

Queen Camilla made a relatable revelation about long-haul travel as her state visit to America with King Charles begins.

The King, 77, and Queen, 78, touched down at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to kick off their four-day state visit to the United States on April 27, and the Queen confessed to feeling the effects of the journey on the first day of their stay.

Following a White House welcome with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump in Washington, D.C., the royal couple headed to a garden party at the British Ambassador’s residence and checked out a time capsule commemorating America’s 250th anniversary celebrations this year.

While in the ambassador’s library for the presentation, the Queen was asked about the flight stateside and admitted to feeling “slightly jet lagged,” nodding to the five-hour time difference between the U.K. and the East Coast of the U.S.

Queen Camilla and King Charles III look over items to be placed in a time capsule in honor of the United States' 250th anniversary in the Ambassador's Library room of the British Embassy on day one of King Charles III and Queen Camilla's State Visit to the United States of America on April 27, 2026 in Washington, D.C.

Queen Camilla and King Charles view items to be placed in a time capsule in the Ambassador’s Library room of the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2026.Julia Demaree Nikhinson-Pool/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla Welcomed by Donald and Melania Trump to the White House for State Visit

US President Donald Trump (C/R) and First Lady Melania Trump (R) greet Britain's King Charles III (C/L) and Britain's Queen Camilla upon arrival at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, DC, on April 27, 2026.

King Charles and Queen Camilla will spend the next few days touring Washington, D.C., New York and Virginia in a diplomatic trip commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

King Charles and Queen Camilla were the guests of honor at the garden party hosted at the home of British ambassador to the U.S Sir Christian Turner, whom Trump appointed in February.

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Queen Camilla, King Charles, Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House on April 27, 2026.Chris Jackson/Getty

The bash convened around 600 people from politics, science and sustainability, plus representatives from community groups, the creative industries and charities tackling domestic abuse, one of Queen Camilla’s key causes.

“She said to me that she feels there have been great strides made in recent years to bring awareness to the issue. She’s been a champion of this issue for years, and it’s lovely to see her here — we’re just thrilled she made time to speak to us,” Gretchen Shaw of the National Domestic Violence Hotline exclusively tells PEOPLE about meeting the Queen.

Queen Camilla, King Charles III and Sir Christian Turner, British ambassador to the US, attend a Garden Party on day one of their State visit to the United States of America on April 27, 2026 at the White House in Washington, DC.

Queen Camilla and King Charles attend a garden party in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2026.Ian Volger – Pool/Getty

The King’s wife also spent time talking with British Olympic diver Tom Daley about his children, Robbie, 7, and Phoenix, 3.

“She asked what I was up to now and told her about my knitting and she asked about my kids. She couldn’t believe how old they were now,” Daley tells PEOPLE about their interaction.

The Queen also obliged a group of West Point cadets who cheekily asked her to join them for a photo at the soiree.

Britain's Queen Camilla poses with US military recruits during a garden party at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington, DC, on April 27, 2026.

Queen Camila poses with US military recruits during a garden party in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 2026.Samir HUSSEIN / POOL / AFP via Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip to America is the first U.S. visit of his royal reign and is proceeding as planned after a shooting happened at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, April 25.

The Trumps were guests at the press event, where a Secret Service member was injured in the gunfire.

PEOPLE understands that the King and Queen reached out to the American president and first lady privately in the wake of the incident, and Trump, 79, later confirmed that he and the King spoke about the visit being a go.

“They called, and they are so looking forward to being here. We spoke this morning,” Trump told CBS News on Sunday.