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White House Renovation Could Put King Charles’s Expected Visit Under a Tent

A senior official warned that ongoing construction would likely mean a South Lawn marquee with portable toilets for any April visit.

Overview

  • White House staff secretary Will Scharf told a National Capital Planning Commission meeting that the King would more likely than not be hosted in a South Lawn tent with porta‑potties.
  • Multiple outlets report an April trip tied to the U.S. 250th anniversary, though the palace has not formally confirmed a visit.
  • The East Wing is being demolished and rebuilt for a roughly 90,000‑square‑foot ballroom estimated at about $400 million, with completion expected before January 2029.
  • With indoor capacity constrained, large events are currently staged in elaborate tents on the South Lawn with outdoor restrooms set up nearby.
  • Officials cite water leakage and mold as the reason for demolition, and architect Shalom Baranes said a one‑story West Wing colonnade addition is under consideration to restore symmetry.