Congressional leaders announced on Wednesday that Britain's King Charles III will address a joint meeting of Congress as part of his visit to Washington later this month.

"We believe an Address to Congress will provide a unique opportunity to share your vision for the future of our special relationship and reaffirm our alliance at this pivotal time in history," the top four congressional leaders wrote in a letter inviting Charles to address Congress.

The address comes as Washington marks the 250th anniversary of American independence. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote that the event will celebrate the "shared heritage and enduring friendship" between the U.S. and U.K.

"As we celebrate this historic milestone and recommit ourselves to the principles upon which our nation was founded, we also recognize that the American experiment endures in no small part because of the British tradition from which it sprang," the leaders wrote.

The last time a British royal addressed the U.S. Congress was in 1991, when Queen Elizabeth II delivered an address to lawmakers. The leaders cited Charles' mother's address in their letter, writing that the relationship between the U.S. and the U.K. "has evolved into one of the most consequential partnerships in modern history," and that the close relationship is not only rooted in shared interests, but "as Queen Elizabeth II told a Joint Meeting of Congress in 1991 — in a shared 'spirit of democracy.'"

The address will come as part of a broader state visit to the U.S., which is set to take place from April 27-30. The trip will mark Charles' first state visit to the U.S. as king. President Trump made a state visit to the U.K. in September.

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