Donald Trump was said to be such a fan of the late Queen, Elizabeth II, that he would bring up his admiration for her in meetings that had nothing to do with the monarch.
“He would talk unprompted about how much he respected her on calls that were frankly about completely different topics,” a senior government figure in the Theresa May administration, who worked during Trump’s first term, said.
King Charles appears to have inherited this esteem – perhaps ably aided by the adept diplomacy of the current monarch, who kept in touch with Trump with handwritten notes while he was out of office.
Which means with Sir Keir Starmer, Nato and much of Europe in Trump’s bad books, the King is considered by insiders to be the best weapon in the UK’s armoury to try and save a trans-Atlantic alliance that has endured for 80 years.
The King will travel to Washington at the end of this month for a state visit which was planned when relations between the US and UK were on a much better footing.
Trump, who has been reluctant to support Ukraine in its war against Russia, has been infuriated by NATO and the UK’s refusal to support his war on Iran or assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
‘The most important thing is the secuirty relastionship’
While Foreign Office sources say the UK-US alliance is operating as well as it always has, despite Trump describing Starmer as “no Churchill”, some UK and US sources admit privately a grave concern is a practical breakdown of the military, security, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation that has underpinned the “special relationship” in modern history
So with Trump now threatening to pull out of Nato – something European diplomats fear will give Putin the confidence to attack Europe – the King’s difficult mission is nothing less than to rescue the Western alliance as well as the ‘special relationship’.
Officially, the King’s visit is to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. But sources behind the scenes, and those with intimate knowledge of how the US-UK alliance operates, say the King’s focus will be on championing NATO and stabilising the security partnership between the UK and US.
While as King he has to be above the political fray, he is also the UK’s chief diplomat and like his mother, skilled at walking in the grey area between diplomacy and politics.
“It wouldn’t be unhelpful if the King said: ‘I happen to think NATO is a rather good thing’,” a senior government figure in the Theresa May administration, who worked during Trump’s first term, said. “I think what this administration will want is to have a bit of political rehabilitation through the auspices of the King.
“The most important thing is the security relationship. Anyone who’s been in government would tell you that, so the more he can do to shore up the practical operation of that partnership, even if it’s not something you’re going to say publicly, has got to be a good thing.”
‘Much of the work will be behind closed doors’
Diplomats will hope the president does not embarrass the King and Queen Camilla by repeating his criticisms of Starmer or Britain’s armed forces – the King is Commander in Chief – but Westminster insiders said there would be some sleepless nights for those left behind in Downing Street during the visit, with everyone acutely aware of how unguarded Trump can be.
Although there will be no Oval Office televised press briefing, however the King and Queen, who are also expected to visit New York, may have to be on guard for some unexpected outbursts by Trump during the visit.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the visit had become “enormously complex and is likely to be “very controversial”.
He added that he expects officials will spend ages pouring over what the King says to Congress, any remarks he delivers at the state banquet, and what he says to Trump privately.
“We don’t know the amount of time he’s going to be spending with President Trump, but it may very well be that the King would convey personal messages from the Prime Minister to Trump in that sense.”
A senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre said it’s a “tremendously volatile time in the US-UK relationship” and, while there is not expected to be a Volodymyr Zelensky style Oval Office nightmare for the King, there is always a risk of the monarch being dragged into an awkward media moment.
Dr. Andrew Gawthorpe, who is also a lecturer in History and International Relations said: “There’s a lot of clamor in the UK for this state visit to be cancelled, but from the government’s point of view they see that they have a tremendous asset here. It’s a useful thing to have a non-political person who represents the nation, who can be sent to try to smooth over difficulties.”
He said much of the serious work will be “behind closed doors” where Charles will have to be careful not to “offend trump” or disagree “about something like Iran or NATO”.
“It’s quite feasible that one month from now, that situation is not going to be resolved and American troops are going to be fighting and dying on Iranian soil, and there’s going to be a lot of pressure from the White House for Britain to do more.”
NATO will, he agreed, be a key priority alongside trade frictions and the war in Iran.
What the Queen said on her state visits to the US
Queen Elizabeth II (C) and U.S. President George W. Bush (wave from the balcony of the White House with Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh in May 2007 (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)Diplomatic sources have stressed that the state visit will be about building bridges rather than focusing on areas of division – but the military alliance is a key part of the two nations’ shared history and one that has been mentioned, either directly or obliquely, on every previous state visit since NATO was formed in 1949.
In 1957 at the banquet for the Queen’s first state visit to the US, President Dwight D Eisenhower called for closer cooperation in science and industry. “Our scientists must work together. NATO should not be thought of merely as a military alliance. NATO is a way of grouping ability – of our manhood, our resources, of our industries and our factories,” he said.
The Queen hailed the alliance in 1976 during a speech in Philadelphia. “Together we have fought in two world wars in the defence of our common heritage of freedom. Together we have striven to keep the peace so dearly won,“ she said.
In 2007 on her last state visit to Washington she told President George W Bush and guests at the White House dinner: “Divided, all alone, we can be vulnerable. But if the Atlantic unites, not divides us, ours is a partnership always to be reckoned with in the defence of freedom and the spread of prosperity.”
The 77-year-old King is an ardent supporter of NATO and western efforts to help Ukraine, will have several opportunities, including a speech to Congress and a toast at a state banquet, to highlight the benefits of multilateral alliances and mutual security.
While the King will not be formally briefed by No 10 on what he should do, the government’s political objectives will be communicated discreetly to him through his weekly audience with the Prime Minister and close links between his private office and the Foreign Office.
He will also get an opportunity to discuss world affairs in private with the president..
‘The UK is in a corner’
Evie Aspinall, director of the British Foreign Policy Group think tank, said Trump’s threats to quit NATO and his repeated attacks on Britain and its armed forces left the King in a difficult position.
“The UK is in a corner but what it can do is try to leverage the state visit and the King’s friendship with Donald Trump to help support NATO,” she said.
She predicted the King would celebrate the military alliance between the two nations and perhaps refer to NATO obliquely.
But she added: “If Trump wants to leave NATO or invade Greenland or do something else like that, I think Starmer will have to reconsider and call the state visit off.”
The agenda for such trips is usually proposed by the host country and, while there is usually some sort of negotiation, the White House – and Trump personally – have very tight control as to how it will play out.
During state visits in Washington, the president usually welcomes guests in a military ceremony on the White House South Lawn. There is a private luncheon and immediately before the state banquet the president and first lady usually show the visiting head of state around the Oval Office privately. There is no press conference planned for the Oval Office.
Fitzwilliams said high level planning between the Government and the Palace will be taking place, covering “every possible scenario” and running through the Government line as no-one, including the Americans, would want the state visit to be a disaster.
“There are certain topics, such as the environment – we know that the King and Trump have totally different views, personally.”
The trip could also be a triumph
But despite the pair not seeing eye to eye on some major issues, Fitzwilliams said it is worthwhile remembering that “when Trump lost the second election, King Charles (the then Prince of Wales) kept in touch with him with handwritten notes”.
When Trump came to Britain on a state visit in September last year, the King lobbied him behind the scenes over the environment and a £31 billion technology deal between the two nations that has since been put on the back burner.
In a speech at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, he also highlighted military cooperation and the fight to save Ukraine from Russia’s invasion.
While the trip is full of risk, the flipside is that it could be a triumph, and reestablish Trump’s regard for the UK. The senior official in Theresa May’s government recalled the advantage of Trump’s enduring regard for the monarchy.
“He clearly has a lot of respect for Charles and for the institution of the Royal Family. So this state visit is a pretty significant political weapon for the PM, behind the scenes,” they said.
Hence then, the article about king charles set to warn trump about putin s threat to europe was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( King Charles set to warn Trump about Putin’s threat to Europe )
Also on site :