Britain and America—What’s Behind the Special Relationship?

King Charles III recently paid the United States an official diplomatic visit in celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. This is the first state visit of a British monarch to the U.S. in nearly 20 years (BBC, April 26, 2026), and it is politically important in light of the deteriorating relationship between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Donald Trump (The Guardian, April 27, 2026). While speaking to the U.S. Congress, King Charles received twelve standing ovations as he gave a message of both diplomatic caution and continuing friendship (The Times, April 28, 2026).

The visit of the King and Queen was marked by both humor and frank conversation, and it seemed to reinvigorate what Winston Churchill referred to as the “special relationship” between Great Britain and America. President Trump commented, “History has known no more powerful force than the combination of American patriotism and British pride” (Politico, April 28, 2026). The relationship between these two nations has ebbed and flowed over the last 250 years, but they continue to cling to each other—perhaps more closely than any other two nations on earth. Why?

The Bible reveals that America, Britain, and the other British-descended nations possess a “special relationship” because they are descended from biblical brothers Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, the son of Jacob, the patriarch whom God renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28). Manasseh and Ephraim were prophesied to become “a nation and a company of nations” respectively (Genesis 35:11; 48:17–19). The connection between the descendants of these brothers continues to show in America and Britain today. You can learn more about the hidden history behind this “special relationship” by reading or listening to The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.