I can picture the King at the White House, elegantly suited and booted as always, making polite conversation over a cup of tea with the world’s most notorious big mouth, US President Donald Trump. Lifting a finger to lightly scratch the side of his nose, in the way he often does when touching on a sensitive subject, Charles might say: “If I could perhaps be so bold as to suggest…”
And there might follow some heavily nuanced remarks about some of the flashpoints in Britain’s so-called special relationship with the United States of America: Iran, Canada, the Falklands and Nato to mention but a few.
The art of diplomacy is in telling people what they don’t always want to hear but without causing offence. And it is a skill that Charles has honed over decades on the world stage, ably mentored by his mother. As Prince, he could be somewhat more outspoken, and did indeed cause offence to people like modern architects, but as monarch he must tread ever more carefully.
However, he is a man of firm beliefs and strong principles. He was not afraid to let Trump know how annoyed he was by the President’s assertion that British forces had avoided the front line in Afghanistan. He used “diplomatic channels” to make his feelings known — adding considerable heft to the Prime Minister’s more direct response — and, hey presto, Trump was suddenly loudly praising our troops as “among the greatest of all warriors”.
The President’s slavering admiration for the monarchy is the Government’s trump card. Excuse the pun. And Sir Keir Starmer is deploying this soft power to the full. Few would envy the King on the mission he has now been assigned. As one former diplomat recently said, what’s “special“ about this relationship these days is that it is so difficult to maintain. But if anyone can help smooth over the cracks, then it is Charles.
The stakes are high. Can this President be trusted to keep a private conversation confidential? Or will any remarks by the King be plastered all over Trump’s social media? Charles will have to judge the mood and weigh up any potential opportunity to allude to difficult issues. It may be that none present themselves, but the King will still have the chance to exert his influence in his speeches at the State dinner and to Congress.
There has been much debate in recent weeks about whether the trip should go ahead – particularly after America waged its brutal war on Iran. Most opinion polls suggest that the majority of the British public are against the visit. Why dangle our King like a toffee to reward a man who has repeatedly insulted our Prime Minister and armed services? But the Government has refused to listen.
The shocking Washington hotel shooting at the weekend provided another credible reason for postponing the trip. Why not re-schedule it closer to the Independence Day anniversary itself in July?
But the Government, oblivious it seems to public opinion, remains implacable— and so the King and Queen must do its bidding. And they will, of course, do it well. If nothing else, the King will underline the long history of friendship between our two countries – ever since the Americans unceremoniously booted out his great-great-great-great-grandfather, George III, 250 years ago. And that in itself will subtly illustrate the permanence of the monarchy versus the transitory nature of all presidents: Trump, too, will be gone before long.
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