When Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles and Queen Camilla were planning a state visit to the US, my initial reaction was excitement. Although I’m American, I’ve been a royalist for decades. I followed every step of Charles and Diana’s relationship as a child and have kept up with the goings-on within the Royal Family ever since.
So I was delighted that the King and Queen were coming to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. But as I read over their itinerary, reality hit: This could be disastrous.
As much as I respect the King and Queen, who will be meeting with the families of 9/11 victims in my home city of New York and with indigenous communities in Virginia, what concerns me is the first leg of their trip: Washington, DC, and, in particular, their meetings with President Donald Trump.
Clearly, tensions between the US and UK are high because of the current conflict in Iran and the multiple shots the President has taken at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for staying out of the war. Though Charles is coming to the States to try to smooth things over, nearly half of Britons think the visit should be cancelled, according to polling.
As an American, I have reservations too. While Trump is said to adore the monarchy, I’m not sure that his time with Charles and Camilla will be productive or end well.
Trump has a history of disrespecting, insulting and verbally attacking world leaders and public figures who disagree with him and his agendas. We’ve seen it happen with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky and, most recently, Pope Leo XIV.
And then there are his angry rantings and social media posts, which have gotten so extreme that many Democrats are pushing to invoke the 25th Amendment, which removes a sitting president from office because they are unable to fulfil their duties due to disability or incapacity.
Taking all of these things into account, is this someone that King Charles can have a rational conversation with? My fellow royal watchers in America also have mixed feelings about the King and Queen meeting with Trump.
“It’ll probably be polite and somewhat awkward, but I’m worried about the aftermath,” a friend told me. “Trump has a way of turning these occasions into something divisive. This could do more harm than good.”
But as an expat friend noted, “Diplomatic calendars and state visits are planned months in advance, so I suspect there’s a fear that cancelling the visit at short notice would be a more aggressive move than going through with it at this point.” And, she added, “Charles is a consummate diplomat who’s already spent time with Trump, so I doubt we’ll see any fireworks — definitely not in public, at least.”
Another friend agreed. “I believe King Charles will navigate the conversation with diplomacy and without mincing words,” she said. “He might be thinking that he can help Trump see the consequences of his undisciplined leadership.” And who knows, Trump might actually behave himself. “He is in awe of the Royal Family, so when he is in the King’s presence, he might be humbled or intimidated,” she added.
Personally, I do hope Charles will charm him. He’s certainly won me over in recent years. Though I was firmly Team Diana for decades, I have really grown to like the King for the causes he supports and the way he has modernised the monarchy.
Charles may not be as beloved in this country as Queen Elizabeth II or Princess Diana, and he’s not nearly as popular as William and Kate (Harry and Meghan are losing fans, who view them as attention-seekers), but he has earned respect among my peers since his Diana days.
“As the years have gone by I believe he is a complex man who has been misunderstood and portrayed unfairly,” a friend told me. “He was one of the early voices on sustainability and climate change and really has not received the spotlight or recognition he deserved.”
“My opinion of Charles has evolved a lot,” said another friend. “He could never match Diana’s charisma and had to pull through a lot of very justified bad press during their separation. Since then, he’s quietly managed to become a much more beloved figure. His marriage to Camilla has proven to be a solid match, he’s become a champion for environmental causes and the arts.
“His self-deprecating sense of humour, love of organic farming, painting and architecture have made him a much more interesting public figure behind the pomp and ceremony. Trump could learn a lot from Charles.”
But will he? The King and Queen haven’t even arrived in America yet, and Trump is already insisting they play by his rules.
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