King Charles Spotlights His Role as Australia’s ‘Sovereign’ After Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s High-Profile Visit

Charles highlighted his role as Australia’s sovereign and called for support of Ukraine in a historic Congress speech — echoing Harry’s recent remarks from Kyiv

King Charles III; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex King Charles addresses Congress; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Australia.Credit : 

Henry Nicholls-Pool/Getty; Cameron Spencer/Getty

King Charles made a pointed reminder of his global role during his historic address to Congress — just days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrapped a high-profile visit to Australia that carried many of the hallmarks of a traditional royal tour.

Speaking about the AUKUS alliance (a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States), the King noted that Australia is “a country of which I am also immensely proud to serve as Sovereign” — a line that landed with added resonance given the recent spotlight on the Commonwealth nation.

Harry and Meghan’s trip, while not an official royal tour or done, included stops focused on community work, veterans and mental health.

Days later, Harry made another unexpected appearance on the world stage, traveling to Ukraine to deliver a speech at the Kyiv Security Forum, where he stressed that he was “not a politician” but still called for “American leadership” in the ongoing war.

Harry’s speech in Ukraine was echoed in part during the King’s remarks to Congress on April 28, where he urged continued support for Ukraine and its people, saying, in part: “…Unyielding resolve is needed for the defense of Ukraine and her most courageous people in order to secure a truly just and lasting peace.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sail on Sydney Harbor with members of Invictus Australia on April 17, 2026.Cameron Spencer/Getty

During a televised interview in Ukraine, Harry was asked whether his remarks might have any impact on his father’s visit with Donald Trump. He dismissed the idea.

“No, no, I don’t think so,” he said. “Not at all.”

King Charles III addresses a joint meeting of Congress as U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) look on at the U.S. Capitol on April 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. In his first visit to the U.S. as the British monarch, King Charles III addressed Congress as part of a multi-day trip to the nation's capital, New York City, and Virginia celebrating the United States of America's 250th anniversary of its independence.

King Charles addresses Congress on April 28, 2026.Chip Somodevilla/Getty

Despite the overlap in timing — and messaging — father and son are not expected to see each other during the King’s U.S. visit. Sources say Harry understands the demands of a tightly choreographed state trip and would not seek to disrupt the official schedule.

Charles made his historic address to the United States Congress, in which he called for a renewed partnership between the U.S., the U.K. and other allies as the world faces “times of great uncertainty.”

The King’s time in D.C. continues Tuesday night with a state dinner at the White House. Then, on Wednesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla will travel to New York City for a series of engagements, including a visit to the 9/11 memorial at One World Trade Center and a reception for The King’s Trust.

They will then travel south to Virginia to meet local residents and community organizations, and observe performances by Appalachian cultural groups. They will also attend a “block party” in a national park to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

After their U.S. trip wraps up, the royals will then head to Bermuda. That visit will be King Charles’ first trip as monarch to an overseas British territory.