Speaking to Congress, His Majesty said that he had accepted the invitation in part because of what he called “the natural human desire to see my birthplace” – Cambridge – which he returned to on that trip. But he also came, he said, to affirm our two nations’ unique friendship and shared values. As he put it, “Friendship of one government for another is an important thing. But it is friendship of one people for another that assuredly guarantees peace and progress.”